• Attendance Protocol & Policies

    Dear Parents/Guardians, please read the following attendance protocol and policy with your student/s. Thank you for working in partnership with us, and we look forward to a great year!

    A note about dismissal: Doors open at 8:45 a.m. daily, and our office is officially open from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Student hours are 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

    The official bell rings at 9:25 a.m., and our dismissal officially begins at 4:15 p.m.

    Please note that all early checkouts must take place before 3:45 p.m.

    School opens at 8:45 am - students not in class by 9:15 am are TARDY.

    Breakfast & Tardy Passes 

    Breakfast (8:45 a.m.—9:15 a.m.): Students who want to receive breakfast should report to the cafeteria upon arrival. Breakfast ends promptly at 9:15 a.m. 

    Tardy (9:15 am—10 am): Students arriving between 9:15 am and 10 am are considered tardy and should enter through the appropriate entrance in the main lobby. Students will retrieve a tardy pass from the Late Arrivals table in the main lobby and report to class.

    Late Check-ins and Early Check-outs 

    Check-In (10:00 am -12 pm):

    All check-ins require a parent/guardian present: Any student arriving at school after 8:00 am must be checked in at the main office by a parent or guardian. A “check-in” is excused if it meets the legal absence criteria listed on the reverse side of this page. Otherwise, it will be unexcused.

    Check-Out (9:45 am - 3:40 pm ONLY):

    Only a parent or guardian or an authorized person (by parent or guardian) may “check out” a student. Authorized persons should be documented on the “Student Information Sheet” in the John Lewis Invictus Academy main office. Persons not listed will not be able to check out your child. If your child is placed in the temporary care of an unauthorized person, you (parent/guardian) should notify the main office in writing ahead of time of the person who will be authorized temporarily and for what time period (dates). Persons “checking out” students MUST present a valid ID in the main office.

    Misc. Policies

    “Return From Absence” Notes 

    Students returning from an absence must bring their documentation (note) to the front office staff or attendance clerk within 3 days of returning to school. Students without documentation will be logged as “unexcused” until proper documentation is received. Absences meeting criteria will be coded as “excused.”

    Messages to Students

    We will not be able to send messages to students after 3:45 p.m. because, at that time, we cannot guarantee a message will reach your student before dismissal (e.g., ride changes). Please do not text or call your student on the cell phone during instructional time.

    Dropping off Items for Students

    Please bring items for students to the main office. The student will be called to the office to retrieve the item as soon as possible.

    From the Atlanta Public Schools Student Handbook

    Compulsory Attendance Law

    In accordance with the Official Code of Georgia, O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1, mandatory attendance in a public school, private school, or home school program shall be required for children between their 6th and 16th birthdays. Any parent/guardian or other person residing in this state who has control or charge of a child or children and who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not less than $25.00 and not greater than $100.00 Imprisonment: not to exceed 30 days of Community service Or any combination of such penalties at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction Upon return to school from an absence, the student shall bring to the school a note, signed and dated by the parent/legal guardian, stating the reason for the absence and the dates the absences occurred. The notification must be received by designated school personnel within three days of the student’s return.

    Notification Of Absences/Acceptable Excuses for Being Absent from School

    In accordance with the provisions of state board rule 160-5-1-.10, Student Attendance, the Atlanta Board of Education defines acceptable excuses for being absent from school as Personal illness. A serious illness or death in a student’s immediate family. A court order or an order by a government agency. The observation of religious holidays. Registering to vote or voting in a public election shall not exceed one day. A student whose parent/legal guardian is in military service or the National Guard, and such parent/legal guardian has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted excused absences, up to a maximum of five school days per school year, for days missed from school to visit with their parent or legal guardian prior to deployment. A student whose parent/legal guardian is currently serving or previously served on active duty in the armed forces or on extended active duty may be granted excused absences, up to a maximum of five school days per school year, not to exceed two school years, for the day or days missed from school to attend military affairs sponsored events.

    Attendance Policy Flowchart

    The following applies to ABSENCES at John Lewis Invictus Academy.

    The following applies to UNEXCUSED TARDIES at John Lewis Invictus Academy.