Student Services

PROCEDURE FOR REPORTING ABSENCES

1. Parents or legal guardians are requested to call the 24-hour attendance voice mail line (317) 571-5915 for 10-12th grades and (317) 571-4622 for 9th grade the day of the absence. If a call is not received by 9:00 a.m. the day after the absence, the absence may be considered unexcused. You may call the attendance office as far in advance as possible. Absences can be scheduled months in advance.

2. A telephone call will be required each day the student is absent unless prior arrangements have been made.

3. When reporting an absence, the parent or guardian should give the following information:
    a. their name and relationship to student
    b. student’s name (please spell) and grade in school
    c. reason for absence
    d. the date of absence

4. Upon returning to school the day following an absence, the student should go directly to class. If there is a question about the absence, the Student Services Office will contact the student.

5. If a student leaves the school building during the school day, the student must sign out with the attendance office. Students must sign in at attendance upon returning to school that day or arriving at school after the school day begins, even if returning or leaving during a passing period.

Failure to properly sign in or out could result in the student’s absence being marked as unexcused.

The student, parent or legal guardian, and the school must cooperate to achieve the school's stated philosophy of education where school attendance is concerned. However, students must be encouraged to exercise self-discipline within the framework of the stated attendance policy.

IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

1. Excused absences from Carmel High School are only granted for:
2. School Sanctioned Activities (i.e. - Field Trips)
3. Planned Family Absence*
4. College Visitations
5. Driver License Examinations
6. Illness of the Student (Medical, Dental, and/or Clinical Appointments) - Please note: after any doctor's visit,  turn in documentation of the visit to    the attendance office.
7. Death in the Family
8. Required Religious Observance
9. Jury Duty/Court Appearance
10. Immigration/Passports

*For planned family absences, athletic tournaments, volunteer trips, and/or other extended absences totaling 3 or more absences, please contact Assistant Principal Maureen Borto, mborto@ccs.k12.in.us, to fill out the proper pre-arranged absence form. This must be completed before your child is absent.

Tardiness to school due to oversleeping and/or car trouble will not be excused.

If you have any questions, please call the Student Services office of Carmel High School at 317-571-5915 or 317-846-7721.

Doctor notes can be faxed to: 317-571-7924.

NOTE: For a complete list of current student-related policies and procedures, consult the Carmel High School Pathways to Success and Student Handbook, available online and from the CHS Bookstore. 

Carmel High School Counseling Page

Carmel High School Nurse Page

Skip-A-Final Requirements & FAQ’s

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

1. Students are allowed no more than 2 absences per class

2. Students are allowed to have one tardy per class.

3. Students who miss any part of a day of school where at least 35% of their grade level is absent for any part of the day, without a doctor's note, will automatically be disqualified from the Skip-A-Final Program.

NOTE: All tardies count against Skip-A-Final, including excused tardies. Missing lunch also counts against Skip-A-Final.

DEFINITIONS (Visit Student Services with Questions)

a.)   Absence:

Not present in class for the first 20 minutes of 1^st period or leaving more than 10 minutes early

Not present (coming late or leaving early) in class for ANY amount more than 10 minutes (2^nd, 3^rdand 4^th)

b.)   Tardy:    

Arriving to class within the first 20 minutes of 1^st period

Arriving to class within 10 minutes of the start time (2^nd, 3^rd,and 4^th) or leaving within last 10 minutes

EXCUSABLE ABSENCES

The following lists of absences are the only absences that will be excused and not counted against the program criteria:

1.  Required school functions, i.e., field trips

2. The death of an immediate family member (mother, father, sibling, grandparents)

3. Recognized religious holidays as noted in Pathways or see an Assistant Principal in Student Services for pre-approval for recognized holidays as noted.

4.  SRT time - Students are encouraged to make appointments during this time to avoid missing class time.

5.  A senior who can provide documentation from a university or scholarship-granting institution, showing a required visit to their facility in order to gain entrance into a program or to qualify for a scholarship, may be eligible for the absence to be exempt from skip-a-final.  Students MUST get pre-approval for the absence from the Attendance Office Assistant Principal prior to the absence.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS

Students must have no 9-week grade less than a C- for ANY class during the semester (Any form of a D or F for any 9-week period will disqualify student for the second semester skip-a-final, including grades for classes that have been dropped).  No grade changes accepted.  Grades must be above a C- at the time of checking.

If a student meets the criteria, fills out the application but then allows a grade to fall below a C- before exams are taken, or is absent more than 2 times in one class, the student may be disqualified from the program.

DISCIPLINE REQUIREMENTS

In-school suspensions (all day or out of class), and out-of-school suspensions (including Saturday School), or a Saturday Detention, automatically disqualify students from the program. 

STUDENT PRIVILEGES

1. Students who meet the requirements of the program will be allowed to choose one final exam to skip. (Students will need to determine if the staff member is participating in the program before choosing to skip their final)

2. Seniors who meet the requirements will be allowed to skip all of their finals at the end of the graduating semester. (Some classes may require a final exam for graduating seniors.)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q – Does my attendance in all of my classes count or just the class where I want to skip the final? 

A – Attendance in all classes counts. If you miss more than 2 periods, plus a partial period in any period, you will be disqualified.

Q –Does a half period count against skip-a-final?

A – A half period counts like a whole period. The first 20 minutes of 1^st period, 10 minutes at the beginning of all other periods, and 10 minutes at the end of each period count as partial periods.

Q – Is there a limit to the number of times you can miss 10 minutes in a class?

A – You are only allowed one partial period per class. All others count as whole periods.

 Q – Why does a D in a dropped class or weighted class count against skip-a-final?

A – Since part of the skip-a-final program is to encourage working to keep grades above a D, any D will disqualify a student.

Q – I won’t get my final grade until my teacher grades a test. That should bring it above   a D. Can I wait to turn my form in?

A – No. Grades are considered final when the teacher signs the form. There are no exceptions on the due date. Unless the grade drops to a D.

Q – I can’t find my teacher to sign the form. What do I do?

A – First, start early getting the form filled out so you have time to catch all of your teachers. If a teacher is absent for several days, you can ask the department head to sign the form.

Q – My teacher won’t let me skip the final; can I skip a different one?

A – Ask your teacher if they will allow you to skip-a-final before you fill out the form. Only in extreme cases will you be allowed to change the final you are skipping after the form has been turned in.

Q – I didn’t think a college visit counted against skip-a-final. What about an official visit or audition?

A – College visits count as personal days and do count against skip-a-final.  However, any senior who can provide documentation from a university or scholarship granting institution showing a required visit to their facility in order to gain entrance into a program or to qualify for a scholarship, may be eligible for the absence to be exempt from skip-a-final. Students must get approval for the absence from the attendance office assistant principal prior to the absence.

Q - I had no choice in scheduling a surgery and have a doctor’s note. Does that still count?

A – Yes. The skip-a-final program is all about encouraging students to be in school. While we understand some absences cannot be avoided, it does still count against skip-a-final.

Q – Do tardies count?

A – Yes, please see Attendance Guidelines and Definition of a tardy.

Q – Why does lunch count?

A – With the volume of skip-a-final applications, it would be too cumbersome to check each student’s lunch schedule. 

Carmel High School Student Handbook

Parking permits now required for ALL student drivers

Parking Permit FAQ

1. Students must hang a Carmel High School parking permit from their rear view mirror to be able to park on property.
2. Students must park in the stadium parking lot.   Any exceptions must be approved by the Student Services Office.
3. Vehicles are to be driven in a courteous and safe manner at all times. A speed limit of fifteen (15) miles per hour applies on school property.
4. Vehicles are not to be driven unnecessarily on campus.
5. Vehicles are to obey all posted signs and heed the designated fire lanes.
6. Upon arrival at school, vehicles should be prepared for inclement weather. Vehicles should be locked.
7. Vehicles are to be unoccupied once they have been parked.
8. School buses have the right of way.
9. When vehicles are parked on property without a permit, the student driver will be required to register for a CHS permit. Students will also face consequences as determined by rule 10 of the driving regulations.
10. Vehicles are to be parked properly in the designated parking spaces. When vehicles are not parked properly in the designated parking spaces or not properly displaying their parking permit, the student driver will face the following consequences:

1. First Offense: Student will conference with an administrator, and contact will be made to a parent. Student is given a choice to serve two Saturday Detentions or pay a $50 parking fee.  
2. Second Offense: Student will conference with an administrator, and contact will be made to a parent. Student is assigned an in-school suspension for failure to comply with an administrative directive. The student is ineligible for Skip-A-Final for the current semester.
3. Third Offense: A conference with the parent and student will occur to discuss the multiple instances of failure to comply.  The students will be assigned an out of school suspension. The student’s parking permit will be revoked for the remainder of the school year. The student is ineligible for Skip-A- Final for the current semester.

11. Cars parked in posted NO PARKING zones, fire lanes or along yellow curbs will be towed at the owner's’ expense. The school will reserve the right to tow cars parked illegally if it creates a disturbance to the school environment.