Please remember, except for illness and medical appointments all partial or full day absences should be prearranged in advance. Prearranged absence forms can be found in your sub school. Forms should be turned back in  3 or more days in advance. 

Students arriving late to school are to follow these check-in procedures:  Students arriving after 8:00 am are to check in at Door 1 at the security desk and receive a pass to their class.

Any students that arrive after the first block (including during breaks, lunch, and between class periods) must check in at the security desk at Door 1.

It is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to call the LBSS 24/7 Attendance Line to report late arrivals and absences due to illness or medical appointments. Parents should call as soon as possible to excuse absences. After 3 days, Assistant Principal’s approval is required to excuse absences. Parents should also call to report late arrivals due to illness or medical appointments or request an early check-out for a student’s medical appointment. In cases of chronic or long-term illness, FCPS regulation 2234 states that, “a principal or designee may require medical documentation.” Lake Braddock Secondary considers twelve (12) all day absences as excessive. If a student accrues an excessive number of absences, the parent or legal guardian will receive a letter from the subschool, requiring a physician’s note indicating the specific health issue for all future absences (including clinic check-outs).

For personal absences that cannot be scheduled during FCPS school breaks or after school hours, including college visits; family events/celebrations/promotions; court appearances; or any reason other than illness or medical appointments, take the following steps to have the absences excused:

1. Complete the Pre-arranged Absence Form (also available in the subschool).
2. Then, the student collects signature(s) from every teacher whose class will be missed.
3. Parent signs form to confirm awareness of teacher signatures, comments, etc. 
4. Student then returns the Pre-Arranged Absence Form to the Subschool prior to the absence.

It is expected that all students will finish the school year and take final exams as scheduled. Pre-arranged absence forms are not to be used to reschedule final exams.

Prearranged Absence Form

Being on time to school, class, work and appointments is a valuable life skill.  At Lake Braddock Secondary School, we ask that every student arrive at school and each of their classes on time. Students who arrive late to class will be marked unexcused tardy unless they have an excused pass from subschool, counselor, or administrator. Parents will be notified via automated phone call and email if their student is late to class. When you receive these messages, please encourage your student to be on time to every class.

Students leaving during school hours are to follow these check-out procedures:  All Fairfax County Public Schools have closed campuses, meaning that students are not to leave school grounds during the day without permission. Students who need to leave school during the school day should check-out with their sub school or clinic. A parent or legal guardian should call the Attendance Line when a student needs to leave during school hours.

For students who are leaving early, check-out passes will be entered into EHall pass for security to confirm once a student leaves the building through door 1. 

To request an early check-out for an unexpected situation DURING the school day, a parent, legal guardian, or person listed on students Emergency Care Card, MUST come into the Main Office with photo identification to have the student released. Parents of Middle School students will need to come to the main office to check the student out. Please allow 15 minutes for check out. Photo ID is required. Students will be called from class to meet parents in the office. Please know unplanned check outs interrupt class instruction and should be avoided if possible. In person early check out must be done before 2:30 p.m. to avoid hindering bus traffic. 

Students must attend ALL classes to be eligible for extra-curricular activities on that day.  Pre-arranged absences must be approved in advance by Ms. Pritchett for VHSL or Ms. Hampton, the Performing Arts Administrator. Routine medical appointments (Dentist, Orthodontist, etc.…) do not have activity restrictions however; students must provide a physician’s note to their subschool upon their return to school and prior to the activity.

The information below is extracted from the Student Rights and Responsibilities and is based on FCPS Regulation 2232

Excused Reasons

• student illness
• death in the family
• doctor or dentist appointment
• observance of a religious holiday
• suspension (except for certain violations as provided in the current version of Regulation 2601)
• another reason acceptable to the principal or designee (Dean of Students)

Unexcused

• family and/or student vacations
• child care situations
• missed school bus
• non-school-related activities
• other reasons unacceptable to the principal designee (Attendance team)

Attendance regulations in Virginia are covered by Code of Virginia, Section 22.1-254, requiring compulsory education for children. In working to ensure our students attend school and receive the finest education possible, Lake Braddock utilizes a tiered intervention strategy to aid and encourage full attendance.

• Student discipline related to attendance can include, but is not limited to:
• Afterschool Detention (Coincides with Late Bus days)
• Lunch Detention

For students who accrue numerous class and full day absences or excessive tardies, discipline can include but is not limited to:

• Alternative Instructional Arrangements (AIA)
• In-school Suspension (ISS)
• Restrictions from extracurricular activities
• Suspension of school parking pass

Automated attendance calls are made twice each school day. If a student is reported as “not in attendance” to their first class of the day and a phone call has not been received by the school concerning the student not being in school, then the parent will receive an automated phone call that morning. If a student is reported as “absent” for the school day and no call concerning the student’s attendance has been received, then the parent will receive an automated phone call and/or email concerning the absence in the evening of the missed day. Please contact the student’s subschool if you believe the call was made in error. All unverified absences will be marked as unexcused if a phone call is not received within 48 hours.