Exactly. It also let us know that barring something weird older son would be an NMF and younger son would have to study a lot. (He ended up commended without studying a lot.) I don’t know why you’d take the SAT in 10th grade, though I do think most students start taking it too late not too soon.
So what? Why do you care? So he misses a day of school? If it doesn’t mean a grade drop, the only one losing out here is the school, based on Average Daily Attendance.
@bluebayou the school has different levels of absences. If it is deemed a “co-curricular” absence it does not count against his grade although the school doesn’t get money for his attendance, if it is “unexcused” his teachers are not required to count his make up work or tests and counts against the policy to exempt finale exams. This could mean a huge difference in his GPA if he has to take a zero for a test given on that day.
just call him in sick.
One days absence- regardless of whether he really IS sick or out of town or taking a test or…, is NOT going to have a HUGE affect on his GPA.
What are you going to do when he really IS sick? Make him go to school??
I understand you are upset, but it will not do you any good to continue to stew about this.
deep breathes… calm down…
Missing one day of school is not a mountain- just a molehill…
then call in sick. If you want to make it squeaky clean, make an appointment with the doctor in the pm for a checkup.
Why does he have to miss the whole day. The PSAT is less than 3 hours. Can’t he go to school in the afternoon?
He will have to miss the first four periods, he might make it back half way through 4th period depending on traffic since he has to travel out of district. For doctors notes they must have a beginning and ending appointment time to be accepted.
Is this a private school? These are the most ridiculous attendance policies I’ve ever heard of.
Nope, it’s a public school and I agree their policies are crazy! There was big deal a year or so ago when they publicized how much government money they were loosing due to student absences and how much money they loose due to the “Robin Hood” laws in Texas.
I don’t see why you care so much about one unexcused absence, it means absolutely nothing .
Our school allows for essentially a “personal day.” They don’t advertise that, but nonetheless it exists and is legit. If your school has that, use it for this purpose and then you won’t have to feel bad about calling him in sick when he’s not, or having an unexcused absence since that would bother you. Your school may offer it although you may not know about it, so inquire!
Even with the inane policies, I’m still not sure why you can’t call him in sick…
@gearsstudio if an unexcused absence means a ZERO for a test or quiz grade it’s a BIG DEAL if it interferes with an exemption form a final it a BIG DEAL.
@romanigypsyeyes there are a limited amount of sick days, what happen if he is really sick and needs those days?
Does he have a quiz or test scheduled for that day?
If not, then you need to breathe.
If he does have a scheduled exam, he would probably get a 0 because the rest of his 10th grade class would most likely be in school and he was not excused in advance. The same thing would happen if you had him call in sick and he did not go to the doctor.
You really need to pick your battles. If he has a test scheduled in his home school the day of the PSAT exam, then you and he need to choose which is more important; taking the 10th grade PSAT or being in school to take the exam.
If you are that worried about an unexcused absence, have him take the PSAT. When the test is over take him to the doctor, pay your co-pay so that you can get an note and have him bring the note the next day.
Okay…so just call in sick. They don’t require a doctor’s note if you stay home do they?
I understand your hesitation to call in sick, I don’t like that idea either. And I understand the concern about an unexcused (if he misses a test…otherwise, not really a big deal). But you have to choose something.
Are his teacher’s that strict? I know some teacher’s would be a real pain about the unexcused, but others would be cool and let a kid make work up (or better yet make it up beforehand—it shows good faith to the teacher).
My state supposedly has a secret list of 59 excusable religious holidays. Maybe your family feels like celebrating something. :-*
Our school allowed 14 absences during the school year. My daughter usually went over because of her EC and it was not a big deal. I have always called her sick. The call usually went like this:
“I am calling to report the student X absent”
“Is she sick?”
“Yes”
You see, I did not even have to claim that she was sick. It was a default choice.
We would also get a separate paper letter for almost every subject she missed that day. This was a real waste of time, money and trees.
You can also claim a doctor’s appointment if your kid plans to come back to school.
I don’t think this is a ‘big deal’ either. Many schools do not have the PSAT for sophomores so call him in sick if you want him to take it and if you find that morally repugnant just take the unexcused absence for half a day. It probably won’t mean anything in the long run. If he ends up having a test that morning he can try and work it out with the teach minus the attendance or principal’s office.
I doubt it’s secret. Most states have laws requiring that schools allow a “reasonable” number of religious holiday absences for students.
Looks like you’ll be celebrating the Day of the Cathedral of the Living Pillar (Georgian Orthodox).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_14