• Student first and last name - absence in the subject line  
• Send from the e-mail address on your family file 
• Date and reason for absence
• Parent name and phone number

Upon receipt of the note, the attendance record in Synergy will be updated per HCPSS policy. Please review HCPSS Policy 9010 – Attendance for guidelines on what is considered to be a Lawful (Excused) Absence.

A student has five days from the date of the absence to send a note. If the note is received after the five-day grace period, the absence will remain unexcused. If a note is not received, the absence will be documented as Truant (unexcused). Please see the Secondary Student Handbook for more information.

Late Arrivals

Students who arrive late to school will enter through the main entrance. The student will proceed to the Student Services Office and see Ms. Shafer or Ms. Thorn to check-in. Students will be provided with a slip to share with their teacher. 

If it is an excused tardy parents should email a note to EMMSabsence@hcpss.org. We will not accept handwritten notes. Please include:

• Student first and last name and late arrival in the subject line 
• Send from the e-mail address on your family file
• Indicate the reason for the late arrival.
• Parent name and phone number

Early Dismissal Procedures 

NOTE: There will be no early dismissal after 2:50 pm daily. There is simply not enough time to process everything before EMMS staff must attend to the regular dismissal process.

Early dismissals: Send an email with as much notice as possible to EMMSabsence@hcpss.org & include:

• Student first and last name and "early dismissal" in the subject line 
• Send from the e-mail address on your family file
• Attach a photocopy/pdf image of the driver's license for the person picking up the student. This person must be listed in your family file as an emergency contact. 
• Indicate the reason and time for the early dismissal, and if they will return to school
• Parent name and phone number

When parents arrive at the school please call the front office, indicate that you have sent an early dismissal note and the student will be called out of class.

NO PAPER NOTES WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR EARLY DISMISSALS AND PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING FOR LATE ARRIVALS OR EARLY DISMISSALS.

What is considered an excused absence?
A lawful absence is an excused absence for any portion of the day under the following conditions:

• Illness of the student
• Death in the immediate family
• Court summons
• Observance of a religious holiday - complete THIS FORM if you need to be absent for a religious observance
• Hazardous weather conditions (as determined by the Superintendent)
• State emergency (as determined by the Governor)
• Suspension
• Lack of authorized transportation (school system transportation)