In Hawaii, attendance in school is mandatory for all children ages 6 to 18 years. Students should be in school during school hours attending their scheduled classes.
Absence from School
Whenever a student misses school, the parent must inform the school via a telephone call to the office, 307-5000 on the days the student is absent. When the student returns to school following an absence, a note signed by the parent is required stating the reason for the absence and listing a phone number where the parents can be reached. The determination of whether an absence is excused or not will be made by the Administration. If a student is absent for two or more days, a request for homework may be made and picked up after school the following day. The office closes at 4:00 p.m. Students who have been absent with legitimate reasons have the responsibility to request and complete the makeup work. Absences for family vacations during the school year are strongly discouraged. Requests for approval of extended absences for family vacations should be submitted to the principal.
Tardies and Cuts
Students who are tardy to school must report to the Back Office for a tardy slip. Failure to report to the office will mean cuts for all classes missed. If a student is detained by a teacher and may be tardy to the next class, the student must get a pass from the teacher who detained him/her. Tardies and cuts are monitored by the staff. A student with a pattern of tardies or cuts will be counseled and warned of possible consequences. Efforts will be made to notify parents to solicit their assistance in curbing tardiness and cuts in school.
Truancies
A student will be considered TRUANT from school if s/he is absent from school without an appropriate reason determined by the principal. HIS participates in the School Attendance Program sponsored jointly by the DOE and the Honolulu Police Department. Whenever a student is truant from school, s/he and a parent will need to attend a Saturday class conducted by the DOE and HPD personnel from 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Police Academy in Waipahu. Therefore, it is very important that a parent notify the school of their child's absence on the morning of the absence. Students who are chronically absent will be referred to Family Court.