Attendance

APU International School recognizes the relationship between student attendance and academic success. We expect students to attend school regularly and punctually, and we encourage parents to support this behavior actively. Truancy and tardiness negatively affect a student’s ability to learn.

Students who miss class or are late to class by five or more minutes will be considered absent. Students whose course attendance falls below 80% (18 or more absences for a semester course) will receive a failing grade for the course. Parents/guardians shall be notified in writing when accumulated absences during the semester reach six and twelve course periods.

Students are expected to abide by the following bell schedule and policies:

Note: There are five minutes between periods for students to proceed to their next classroom.

• Students must stay on campus during school hours unless otherwise noted.
• Students must be on time for all scheduled courses, assemblies, class meetings, appointments, and school internships.
• Students who are late to school for any reason must report to the Discipline Desk upon entrance to the school.
• In order to participate in athletics, performing arts or other extracurricular activities on a given day, students must attend all classes and meet all academic obligations unless excused in advance by the Dean of Students.
• Students are not allowed to leave campus unless they have a note from a parent or permission from the Principal, Vice Principal, or Dean of Discipline. Students must sign out at the Enrollment Desk before leaving and sign in upon their return if in the same day.

Please note that the ELD program maintains separate attendance policies (see ELD Attendance Policy below).

Tardies

Students who are late to class by fewer than five minutes will be considered tardy and after three tardies will be subject to afterschool detention on the same day if the tardy occurs prior to lunch or on the next school day if it occurs after lunch. Students who are late to class by five or more minutes will receive an unexcused absence for that class but will remain eligible to receive any applicable class work or participation credit for the portion of time that they are present. Students arriving late to a class with a note signed by a faculty member, a dean, or a vice principal will not be considered tardy.

Excused Absences

Students with excused absences will be eligible to arrange with the course instructor to make up any work missed. Students may only be excused from their absence with a note from a parent, physician, or school administrator for the following reasons:

• Illness or serious injury
• Family emergency
• Court appearance*
• Religious observance*
• Participation at a school-sponsored sports competition*
• Presence at a field trip for another course*

*These absences are considered “scheduled” and must be submitted to the Dean of Students at least two school days in advance to be considered excused.

Students may be expected to furnish additional proof of an excused absence, such as a physician’s note, at the request of the school.

Unexcused Absences

Students who are absent for any other reason will be considered to have an unexcused absence, even if a note from a parent is provided. Absences arising from school suspensions are considered unexcused, and students with out-of-school suspensions are not eligible to make up coursework assigned or due during their suspension. Students with unexcused absences will only be eligible to make up the work at the discretion of the course instructor, who may also choose to impose a grade penalty on missed coursework.

Students without a note from a parent, physician, or school administrator will be considered truant in addition to having an unexcused absence. Truancy will be reported to the student’s parents or guardians, and the student will be subject to disciplinary action.

Appointments During the School Day

Appointments for non-emergencies, such as elective medical and dental procedures, should be scheduled outside of the school day. If, however, such conflicts are unavoidable, students must bring a note signed by a parent or guardian to the Attendance Office before the start of school that day. This note must state the reason, time of departure and estimated time of return. The Attendance Office will then provide the student with an Off-Campus Pass. The student will be expected to present this pass at the Student Affairs Desk in order to sign out and leave the school as well as to check back in upon his or her return if during the same day.

Make-up Work

Unless other arrangements are made with the vice principal of academic affairs or course instructors, students allowed to make up work will be expected to submit any homework due during their absence upon the first day of their return to school and must be prepared to make up any exams, tests, or quizzes within their second day of return. If either of these days occurs after the close of the semester, the student will need to make arrangements with the vice principal of academic affairs in order to make up the work. The maximum extension for make-up work is one week from the first day of the student’s return.

Students absent due to a scheduled absence, whether excused or unexcused, will be expected to complete any exams, tests, quizzes, or assignments in advance or make prior arrangements with the course instructors.

School Cancellation

In the event that school is canceled for any reason, parents will be notified through a note sent home with the student, the mail, or a phone call.

ELD Attendance Policy

Please note that these policies are slightly different from those of the high school program

• Students who come to class after the bell has rung (up to two minutes) will receive a “Late” mark.
• Three “Late” marks equals one “Unexcused Absence”.
• Students who come to class after the bell has rung (more than two minutes) or are absent will receive an “Unexcused Absence” until the student has resolved the situation in accordance with school policies.
• Four “Unexcused Absences” will result in a failing grade for the course.
• Seven total absences, whether excused or unexcused, will also result in a failing grade for the course.