Call the student’s subschool attendance line on the morning of the absence. Provide the student's name, caller’s name, relationship to student, date, and reason for absence. If a student will be absent for more than one day, a call must be made each day. Students are responsible for ensuring that contact is made with the subschool office and checking Schoology for assignments missed.

Note: If your student is enrolled in Academy courses at Chantilly, Edison, Fairfax, Falls Church, Marshall, and West Potomac, the parent or guardian must notify both LBSS and the academy school for absences.

Middle School Students

• 7th Grade - SS2 703-426-1182
• 8th Grade - SS1 703-426-1181

High School Students 

• SS3 703-426-1183 - last names A-D 
• SS4 703-426-1184 - last names E-K 
• SS5 703-426-1185 - last names L-P 
• SS6 703-426-1186 - last names Q-Z

The messages must include the following:

• Be specific about the reason why your child will not be attending school today
• Please indicate whether your child has any of the following symptoms:
  • Feeling feverish or chills
  • Fever greater than or equal to 100.4 F
  • Headache (not due to another health condition, hunger, menstrual cramps stress, or injury)
  • A new cough (not due to another health condition)
  • Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties (not due to diagnosed respiratory condition or if different than normal pattern of chronic condition)
  • A new sore throat (not due to another health condition)
  • Congestion or runny nose (not related to allergies or health condition)
  • Fatigue (more tired than normal or sudden onset)
  • New muscle pain (not due to another health condition or that may have been caused by a specific activity such as physical exercise)
  • New loss of taste, smell, or appetite
  • Abdominal pain (not due to hunger, constipation, injury, or stress)
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

In order to be excused for any reason other than those listed under attendance, a parent/guardian must contact the subschool attendance secretary at least two days in advance stating the reason and dates of the proposed absence. The student will be given a form that is to be signed by each of the teachers and the subschool principal prior to the absence. An excused absence or a prearranged absence permits students to make up missed assignments. Assignments not made up will affect the grade.

Students must assume complete responsibility for making up any assignments missed.

Prearranged Absence Form

An unexcused absence from school or from class is one for which the student does not have a legitimate reason in the opinion of the principal or assistant principal. When a student is absent without prior communication between the parent and the school, school personnel will notify the parent and take appropriate action based on the individual circumstances. After four unexcused absences, an attendance plan must be created with parent and student. School attendance is required by law, as outlined in the Code of Virginia. Absences and tardies will be addressed by individual interventions with progressive consequences for students. Students are fully responsible for completing any missed assignments. Teachers may assist the student and parent in identifying missed work, but are not obligated to provide make‐up assignments.

Whenever any student accumulates absences that account for missing more than 15% of the school year, someone from the school will reach out to the parent to create a plan to address and resolve the non‐attendance concerns. If an additional unexcused absence occurs in the same school year, a conference will be scheduled. If a further unexcused absence occurs in the school year, there will be a referral to the attendance officer who will file a complaint with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court as described in Section 22.1‐258 of the Code of Virginia. The current version of Regulation 2234 provides additional details.

It is extremely important that students make up any and all class work or homework missed due to absence. Students whose absences are unexcused should complete all missed assignments, although credit will not be given on the assignments.

• All students should check their teachers Schoology for assignments.
• Students who are absent one day will take previously announced quizzes and tests and hand in previously assigned work when they return to class.  Assignments given during their absence should be made up upon returning to school.
• In the case of pre‐arranged absences, students will deliver to teachers all previously assigned work due during their absence the day they return to class.
• Students who are absent for multiple days are afforded one day of makeup for each day missed. The student is responsible for conferring with the teacher to arrange a make‐up schedule. Again, work previously assigned is due the day of the student's return. (If long‐term assignments carry a deadline, as opposed to a due date, students are expected to send the assignment to school if they are absent.)
• A student who is absent from class (e.g. for a field trip, medical appointment, excused tardy, or clinic visit) but who is in attendance for any part of the day, is required to hand in assigned work and make up quizzes/tests on that day.
• Under extenuating circumstances, at the discretion of the teacher, an extension may be granted for any of these different conditions. Students are responsible for discussing these extenuating circumstances with the teacher.

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.

All students arriving to school after 8:00 AM are considered unexcused unless they are on a late arriving school bus or have a note excusing tardiness. Students arriving late to school must enter the school at the main entrance and check in at the security desk. The student will be given a tardy pass from the security kiosk.  A note or phone call from a parent is required for an excused pass to class. Students must make contact with all teachers for any class missed.

Students are to be in their seats when the bell rings to begin the class period. Tardiness may result in a detention with the teacher. Habitual tardiness will be considered insubordination and/or defiance and will result in other disciplinary action.

• Prior to 8:00 a.m., the student must present a note from the parent to their subschool office. Notes must include time of dismissal, reason for leaving, and a contact number. Parents of middle school students must also include the name of the person picking the student up. Please note that this person must be listed as an emergency contact. At the time of early check-out, middle school parents must come in Entrance 1 and meet their student at the Main Office. Anyone picking up a middle school student must bring a photo ID with them. High school parents may pick up students outside Entrance 1. 
• Notes are strongly preferred for early check-out, but if a parent is unable to send a note with the student, the parent should call the subschool office attendance line as early as possible. All calls will be confirmed by callback to a phone number on the emergency care card. 
• Students must check out at the subschool office when leaving school as well as check back into the subschool upon return. Students who leave school without checking out properly will be marked unexcused and may face disciplinary action (if returning to school, students are also subject to search). Students must contact all teachers of any class to be missed.

• If a student becomes ill at school, they must go to the clinic for proper check out procedures.