As a school we strongly discourage you from planning and taking vacations while school is in session. It is our policy that work may not be provided for students on vacations and work will need to be made up after school or on the students' time when they return. Our teachers take a great deal of time planning and implementing classroom lessons. The learning that goes on in the classroom cannot be replicated through independent work. Missing time in school negatively impacts students' academic progress and creates gaps in their learning.

Please take a moment to refer to pages 33-34 of the handbook for more information (which has been reproduced below and is current as of 08/27/2009).

ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS AND
PROCEDURES

Attendance Policy
I.              Rationale - The Silver Lake Regional School Committee encourages good attendance in order to be successful in school. Therefore, it endorses the following attendance policy.
II.            A. In order to obtain credit for a course, students may not have more than eight unexcused absences for a semester course and no more than fifteen unexcused absences for a year course. An absence is defined as missing more than one-half a class period. Students will be considered constructively present if they are with an administrator, a guidance counselor, or on a field trip.
                B. If a student exceeds the allowed absences he/she will receive the grade earned for the class but will not receive credit for the course. Seniors are reminded that they need to receive credit in five classes their senior year to be eligible for graduation.
                C. This means that a student who passes a course may move to the next level in an academic sequence but still must make up any required credits before graduation.
                D. Absences will only be excused under the following circumstances:
                                If,
                                1. There is a specific written request for an excused
                                    absence given to the students’ housemaster within two
                                    school days of the absence; and
                                2. The absence fits under one of the four circumstances
                                    Listed below:
                                                a. funeral
                                                b. legal matter (not a driver’s license) verified
                                                    by the court/lawyer
                                                c. religious holiday
                                                d. medical absence documented by a doctor
                E. There is the right to appeal to the principal

III.      A. Attendance secretary will direct written requests for an excused absence to the appropriate Housemaster.
B. Housemaster will decide on the matter and have the secretary send
     a notice to the parent, either accepting or rejecting the excuse.
                C. Excused absences will be recorded on a data base by the
                     attendance secretary.
                D. Teachers will record grades and keep attendance as usual.
E. At the end of each semester, the housemaster will check class absences that exceed limits and match them with the data base of excused absences.
                In accordance to GL Ch 74 regulation requires that any students who miss 25% or more days of vocational classes will not be given credit for their career and technical programs.