VI. ATTENDANCE POLICY
A. General Attendance
1. All students are expected to attend every rehearsal and performance.
2. Illness, death in the family, and approved religious holidays will be considered excused absences.
3. Students are reminded not to schedule family engagements that will conflict with the schedule.
4. The director must approve all other conflicts before they will be considered excused.
5. Please note that parties, concerts, and sporting events will be considered unexcused absences.
B. Potential Absences
1. All potential absences for the entire MARCHING BAND SEASON (September through December) must be verified with
a note or email from your parents no later than 12:00 PM on Friday, September 9, 2011. This includes all excuses for
standardized tests (i.e. SATs), religious holidays and college visitations. This allows the staff to plan for you absence
and to help the band adjust to the hole in the show. Students may not be excused from any of the Championship
performances.
C. Emergency Absences
1. All emergency absences must be verified with a parental note or email as soon as the student returns to band. This
includes absences from school. All notes should be given to Mr. Lerch in writing. Please include the specific reason as
to why the student will be or has been absent. Please do NOT phone these excuses.
2. If you miss a rehearsal during the week of a performance, whether excused or not, you may not perform that
weekend unless approved by Mr. Lerch. This is strictly for your safety and the safety of others.
D. In the event of an emergency absence
1. You or a parent should email the director at jdlerch@pantherband.net as soon as you know that you are going to
miss, and state why.
2. If the email can’t be sent prior to missing, please have the email sent as soon as possible.
3. After the absence, bring a parent note or email immediately to Mr. Lerch at the next rehearsal to verify the absence.
E. Unexcused absences
1. An unexcused absence from a performance will result in the student being suspended from marching band activities
until a parent/teacher conference is held.
2. Any further unexcused absences from any future performances will result in result in dismissal from the marching
band.
3. The first unexcused absence from a rehearsal will result in suspension from that weekend’s activities. You still must
attend those performances dressed in full uniform.
4. A second offense will result in another weekend suspension.
5. A third offense will result in dismissal from the marching band.
6. Students who work must provide their employer with a copy of the band schedule in order to avoid conflicts. Students
will not be excused from any performance to work.
7. In an emergency, students may be excused from only one Tuesday rehearsal to accommodate a work conflict,
provided Mr. Lerch is aware of this in advance in writing.
8. Students participating in winter activities are expected to attend band performances at football playoff games should
they coincide with school athletic tryouts. Coaches should make allowances for all students so that they may complete
the fall season.
9. Students are to be on the field or other assigned area ready to begin at 6:00 (or other assigned time).
10. Your attendance record will be reviewed when being considered for awards, promotions within the band, and
recommendations by the director, and scholarships.
11. Students not completing the rehearsal and performance requirements are not eligible for an award or booster
scholarship.
IN CASE OF EXTREME EMERGENCY, THE DIRECTOR AND/OR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR CAN BE CONTACTED BY
DIALING DIRECTLY INTO THE BAND OFFICE (856-962-5701 x. 6430).