If your child is going to be out sick, please call our front office at 410-880-5897. We will collect work from the teachers for you to pick up if the student has been absent for 3 or more days. If they are only out 1 or 2 days have them call a homework buddy from their class.

Absence:

A student should bring a note to the front office from home on the first day back to school after an absence, explaining the reason for the absence(s). The secretary will give the student a pass to be shown to teachers. Students are responsible for make-up work. The best way to meet this responsibility is to ask the teachers or check a classmate's Assignment Book.

Questions about attendance? Please contact: 

Lateness: School Arrival:  Students are considered “tardy to school” after the ringing of the 8:25 bell.  Any student who enters the building after the 8:25 bell, must report to the front office to sign-in. 

Students who arrive tardy to school 4 times within a quarter will have to attend a Friday Evening School.  We do understand that during these cold mornings, many parents are electing to drive their students to school causing our carloop line to back up.  Please plan accordingly for the potential back up in the carloop line, and also know that on cold mornings we allow students to enter the building starting at 8:05 (rather than 8:15), and they are monitored in the cafeteria until the 8:15 bell rings.

Early Dismissals:

Homework

• If your child is out for 3 or more days sick (not vacations), you can call the school and have work sent down to the Student Services Office at 410.880.5838.
• If your child is absent less than three days, your child will have to get the missing work from their teachers upon their return to school.

Tardy and Early Dismissal also require a note or a parent sign-in/sign-out. Please make every effort to help your child make the bus on time and schedule appointments after school. 

Our Policy

All Parents are encouraged to read carefully the following highlights of the HCPSS Attendance Policy. MHMS supports the strong link between daily attendance and successful academic performance. We fully adhere to all HCPSS policies that enhance student learning and strengthen our school community. In partnership we work together to ensure excellence in teaching and learning so that each student will participate responsibly in a diverse and changing world. Please be advised of the following:

• Parents MUST provide a note for all absences.
• The school MUST receive a note from the parent or physician within two school days of the student’s return. This documentation will be used to EXCUSE the absence.
• Tardy and Early Dismissal also require a note and a parent sign-in/sign-out. Please make every effort to help your child make the bus on time and schedule appointments after school. 
• Tardy and Early Dismissal procedures include that all parents will enter the school and sign their children in after 8:25 a.m. or sign them out if leaving prior to 3:10 p.m.   For your child’s safety, our staff will not allow exceptions to the county policy.
• An absence that exceeds 20 minutes from a class is considered an absence from that class.
• Absences for Non-Emergency circumstances are strongly discouraged during the State and County Testing Windows.

Please inform the school administration of planned non–emergency absences two weeks in advance. HCPSS has provided a form for these occurrences. Parents are permitted three discretionary absences for their child.

A student is counted present for a full day if the student is in attendance four hours or more of the school day. A student is counted present for half day if the student is in attendance for at least two hours of the school day, but less than four hours.