Daily School Procedures

The school day begins at 8:30am and ends at 3pm. The front office is open from 8:00am until 3:30pm during the school year.

You can reach the FHS Front Office at 317-915-4290. Need to report an absence? Report online via Skyward (preferred) or call the attendance office at 317-915-4295.

2024-2025 Red/Silver Calendar

2024-2025 FHS Course Guide

Attendance Procedures

All Day Absence

Parents and Guardian should enter an absence request in Skyward or calls the attendance office (317-915-4295) by 9:00 AM.

Arriving Late

Students arriving late to school will be prompted to sign in at a main entrance (door FH1 or FH19) or the attendance office.

Leaving Early (Appt.)

Parent/Guardian enters an absence request in Skyward. Please allow a minimum of two hours notice to process your request.

Leaving Early (Illness)

Students feeling unwell should visit the clinic. If the student needs to leave early, parents/guardians will be notified.

Attendance Philosophy

Our primary responsibility at Fishers High School is to ensure learning for each student, but that core purpose becomes more difficult when students are not in attendance. Student success in coursework requires consistent in-person attendance to engage with learning materials, teachers, and classmates. Recurring absences place undue stress on students, families, and FHS teachers. Recognizing the relationship between attendance and high academic achievement, FHS places high expectations and accountability on student attendance. It is essential that Tiger students and their families take responsibility for knowing and following attendance expectations.

Absences and Important Policies

Limit On Absences

Student absences should not exceed 10 days per year.

A student may not be absent from school for more than ten (10) absences per year. Eight absences on a block schedule is the equivalent of missing more than eleven hours of instructional time for that particular course. Both excused and unexcused absences count towards this maximum of ten days. Continuation of school attendance after the eighth absence may be subject to the student complying with conditions (e.g. a doctor’s note may be required, an attendance contract may be generated) regarding additional absences, and parent conferences may be requested.

EXTENDED ABSENCES

Pre-arranged family vacations cannot occur during final exams, and they cannot occur in excess of ten (10) consecutive school days. Students who violate this provision may be subject to the following actions in accordance with the FHS Student Handbook and Indiana law: (i) the school may exit the student as an out-of-state transfer, and the parent/guardian shall be responsible for enrolling the student where they are located and re-enrolling the student upon their return; (ii) at the election of the parent/guardian, the student may be exited as a transfer to Homeschooling; (iii) upon approval of the school, the extended absence may be excused if the trip for educational purposes; or (iv) the extended absence may be reported as unexcused absences.

Progressive Discipline for Excessive Absences

Fishers High School places high expectations and accountability on student attendance. As such, progressive disciplinary measures may be taken for excessive absences and/or unexcused / unverified absences. Consequences may include but are not limited to:

After-school detentions and/or in-school suspensions
Loss of driving privileges or revocation of driver’s license / permit
Temporary prohibition on extracurricular activity participation, including attendance at school dances or other activities
Referral to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office for truancy

Verified Absences

These are pre-arranged absences. The parent/guardian notifies the school (preferably via Skyward) or vice versa. The school will notify teachers, and the student is excused from school. These contribute towards the 10 absence limit per year.

Illness (medical documentation may be required)
Medical appointments, which cannot be scheduled outside of the school day (documentation may be required)
Family emergency, or professional appointments
College visit (on or off campus)
Visit to the FHS clinic (students will sign in there)
Non-school competitions or performances (these MUST be pre-approved)
Pre-arranged family absences (these cannot occur during final exams, and cannot occur in excess of 10 consecutive school days)
Funeral Attendance
Court-ordered appearances or driver’s license examination
Other school-authorized absences (ex. Field trips, religious holidays, suspension, school-sponsored testing, academic contest or ECA performance)

Reporting Absences via Skyward

Unverified Absences

These are absences from school without verification from a parent/guardian OR a notification of an absence for an unapproved reason (see below). These contribute towards the 10 absence limit per year. Progressive discipline will ensue.

Oversleeping and/or missing the bus
Skipping class
Missing class to study, work on homework, prepare for a test, or any other schoolwork
Working at a business (exceptions for school-sanctioned internships or work-release programs)
Non-prearranged family absences
Any absence in which a student and/or a parent does not comply with the FHS reporting attendance procedures
Any absence which, despite parent/guardian contact, exceeds the limit of absences (8 per semester) and is not accompanied by medical documentation
Other non school-authorized excuses

Early Dismissal Passes

To ensure adequate processing time, all early dismissal requests must be received at least two hours in advance. For any student who has had a parent/guardian enter an absence via Skyward (or phone call) for an early dismissal, the student will receive an Early Dismissal Pass electronically via their school email. Students will not be permitted to leave class before receiving this email from the attendance office.

Recurring Off-Campus Opportunities

SENIOR FLEX

Students who qualify for the Senior Flex schedule can stay on school grounds in approved spaces during flex time or they can choose to leave campus. Students leaving campus must check in and out according to established procedures. Students may have flex privileges suspended or revoked if they don’t maintain good attendance in classes.

SENIOR STUDY HALL

Off-campus study hall is available for senior students in blocks 1, 4, 5, and 7 only. Attendance during block 8 Employability and Targeted Instruction (when requested) is mandatory, and failure to maintain good attendance in scheduled blocks will result in the loss of the virtual study hall option for these students. Students leaving campus must check in and out according to established procedures.

TARGETED INSTRUCTION

Attendance during targeted instruction sessions is required when students are requested by a teacher. Absences will be considered unexcused unless indicated through normal attendance procedures. Students not requested to work with a teacher may select to work off campus if approved by a parent to do so. Students leaving campus must check in and out according to established procedures.