CCA families have four breaks during the school year in which to plan trips.  Trips scheduled during school are highly discouraged due to the effect they have on overall academic performance and the increased workload they cause for student and faculty.  Special exception may be made if a trip is considered highly educational in nature (example:  trip to visit Europe to study art history, opportunity to page for the Senate, etc., out of country missions.)  These trips MUST be pre-approved, and all work must be turned in on the day the student returns to school.  If a trip is not pre-approved by the office, the student will be considered unexcused, and missed work may not be accepted.  Absences count against “attendance exam exemption”.

Procedure
In order to have approval for an absence, the following guidelines must be met:
1.The parent must give permission and explanation via this form at least three days prior to the absence.
2.The student will take a Teacher Input Form to his/her teachers for a signature.  This form can be found on Renweb or on the school webpage next to the link to this form.
3.When signing the form, teachers will indicate whether the student will miss tests or major assignments.  If tests will be missed, they should be scheduled at that time and written down.
4.Students will turn the completed Teacher Input Form into the office at least two full school days prior to the absence for administrative approval.
5.If the student is failing a class, the administration will call home to notify the parents.

Unexcused Absences
•Students who are absent because of any trip or vacation will be considered unexcused.
•Students will be able to make up work for these unexcused absences only if the work is turned in before the trip or on the same day the student returns to school.  Any work not turned in by the day of return will receive a zero.  Students will be responsible for collecting all assignments for each class before their trip in enough time to complete all assignments.
•Any missed tests must be made up before the trip or a make-up date scheduled and written on the pre-approval form.

Excused Absences
•Excused absences include funerals, marriages, religious observance, college visits, doctor's visits, and driver’s license examinations.  
•Whenever possible, the above should be scheduled outside of school hours.
•Excessive absences of any nature may be subject to administrative approval.
•Students will be able to make up work for excused absences.  All work should be turned in before the trip or on the same day the student returns to school.  Any work not turned in by the day of return will marked off 11 points for every class day it is late after the student’s return.  Students will be responsible for collecting all assignments for each class before their trip in enough time to complete all assignments.
•Any missed tests must be made up before the trip or a make-up date scheduled and written below.