Milford Christian Academy believes that a student’s regular attendance in class is vital to spiritual, academic, and social development. Students are expected to be in all assigned classes including homeroom, study halls, and electives. Students with more than five unexcused absences during any nine-week grading period may receive failing marks for that grading period, which may jeopardize promotion to the next grade or result in loss of credit. Students who miss ten days or more during a semester may receive no credit for that semester’s work. Students who accumulate two or more unexcused absences in a semester may forfeit extracurricular activities such as reward trips. Exceptions will be made only for students whose absences are documented by a doctor’s note, or pre-arranged through a formal request by a parent/guardian. The administration reserves the right to approve or disapprove absences. Doctor’s notes or documentation regarding any other emergency must be received in the school office within three days after returning to school. Absences will fall into one of the two following categories as determined by the school.

When it is necessary that a student be absent, parents should call the office between 7:15 and 7:45 a.m. and state the reason for absence. The administrative office will then inform respective teachers of the student’s absence. No absence can be excused without written notice or a telephone call to the school office.

Promptness is a valuable character quality. Students are expected to be on time for school and each class. Emergencies do arise, and allowances will be made for them, but persistent tardiness is unacceptable. The school administration may arrange for a parent conference for students who have been tardy to school three or more times in a nine-week period.

When a student receives three unexcused tardies to school, these tardies will be counted as one day of unexcused absence. Unexcused absence policy states that any class work or quizzes administered during an unexcused absence may not be made up, and zero credit will be given.

Students who receive three unexcused tardies to class per nine-week period will receive a detention. Students who are late for school or tardy for any class must first report to the school office to receive a pass. Tardiness may be excused for reasons such as:

• Family emergencies
• Illness or injury
• A car accident
• Extreme weather/traffic conditions

School begins each day at 7:50 a.m. and ends at 2:50 p.m. Students must be dropped off on the Bauer/Baker building side of our school. Designated drop-off zones are also fire lanes. Persons dropping students off in these areas may not leave their vehicles. Bauer/Baker building doors will be locked at 8:00 a.m. each day.

The following rules will apply to tardies and absences:

Family vacations and trips should be scheduled to correspond with the school calendar. Should it be absolutely necessary, students may be absent up to five days each school year for such personal reasons.

Personal days off from school require that a Pre-Arranged Absence Form be completed and submitted to the office three days in advance of the absence. Upon approval, students will receive assignments in advance and will make up assignments in accordance with the MCA make-up work policy.

If a Pre-Arranged Absence Form was not filled out and approved prior to the first day of an absence, the absence may be considered an unexcused absence. Students missing any class work or quizzes administered during an unexcused absence may not be made up, and zero credit will be given.

Students with excused absences or approved pre-arranged absences must check with their teacher immediately upon returning to school to get missed assignments. Students are allowed as many days to make up work as days absent. (Example: If a student is absent on Monday and returns to school on Tuesday, the make-up work is due on Wednesday.) In the case of extended absences, e.g., serious illness, hospitalization, etc., more time will be given depending upon individual circumstances. A student with an excused absence the day before an assigned quiz or test may be excused from taking the quiz or test on the first day back to school only if the student was absent when new material was given or when significant review was accomplished. If excused from taking the quiz or test, the student must take the quiz or test the following school day. Students cannot make up more than two tests in a day.

Students with an approved pre-arranged absence will have an equal amount of time to make up assignments. For example, two days of absence would mean two days to make up assignments.

Parents should keep children at home when they are sick. This action will aid the general welfare of all students and teachers. A child may return to school when capable of participating in school activities. Parents should send a signed note to the school on the day the child returns explaining the child’s absence. A phone call from a parent is also acceptable.

Any student with a temperature of 100.0° will be separated from other students and sent home from school. The child should not return to school until the fever has subsided for at least twenty-four hours. Students who have been absent for over three days because of illness may be required to provide a doctor’s note before being allowed to return to school.

Any senior not attending the senior trip will be required to be in attendance at school while the seniors are gone on their senior trip. Any money that was raised by the senior not going on the trip will be divided evenly between the seniors and chaperones that are going on the trip.

Students who leave early from school must be signed out through the school office. Arrangements can be made for older students to sign themselves out. Parents are not permitted to go directly to a classroom. The office will notify the teacher when a student is to leave, and the student will report to the office for early dismissal.

Students that are not picked up from school when the dismissal period ends will be taken to Late Stay. This service is provided until 6:00 p.m. each school day, unless otherwise stated. After dismissal is complete, each teacher will escort students to Late Stay who have not been picked up. Statements will be sent out weekly through FACTS and billed to your account. Students may bring a snack for Late Stay.

When students are not picked up by 6:00 p.m., an additional $10 fee will be charged. Costs are as follows:

• First child - $10.00 per day
• Second child - $8.00 per day
• Each additional - $6.00 per day

Driving conditions and/or temperature determine the delays or cancellations of school for inclement weather. Our goal is to announce school delays or closings before 6:00 a.m. All delays and closings for Milford Christian Academy will be given on local news channels, social media, and Remind texting service.