Attendance Information Home

To report student absences, please submit this Google Form or call the DSF attendance office at 804-673-3700 ext. 1, or send a note* with student upon return to school (ACE students should call DSF and ACE Centers for absences). Within 48 hours of the student's return to school, parents/guardians must call or send in an absence note to excuse the absence.

*Notes for student absences: Students are allowed 10 sick days per year (with a note or parent/guardian phone call). After 10 sick days, a student must have a doctor’s note for the absence to be excused.

The DSF attendance office will approve absences up to three days; any absence over three days must be approved by Dr. Marshall, school principal. Dr. Marshall’s email address is jpmarshall@henrico.k12.va.us.

Send student to school with note from doctor (preferred) or a parent or guardian.

Late arrivals are not accepted by phone.

Any issues regarding car travel (traffic, flat tire, dead battery, etc.) are not excusable. The County provides buses – if a bus is late, it does not count against the student; however, if the student arrives by car, then it is unexcused.

If an early dismissal is known in advance, send a note to school with the student. The note should have the student’s full name and grade, the reason for dismissal, the parent or guardian's name and phone number. This way, students can sign themselves out on the dismissal log and meet the parent or guardian in the parking lot.

Written dismissal notes must be turned in by students before 10:15 a.m., otherwise, a parent/person on the approval list must come in to pick up the student before 3:30 p.m. Dismissal notes must be written by a parent/guardian, NOT the student.

If the student does not have a note for dismissal, the parent or guardian must come into the school to pick up the student before 3:30 p.m. The parent or guardian must bring a photo ID to the attendance office and sign the student out on the early dismissal log.

Note that early dismissals are not accepted by phone, fax, email or text.

In addition, we will not call a student out of class ahead of time. Once we have verified that the parent or guardian’s photo ID is on our authorized pickup list, we will be happy to retrieve the student from class.

College visit privileges are extended to seniors and juniors taking AP classes. With proper documentation, these will not count toward exam exemption.

Proper documentation:

1. A letter, note, email or other proof of visit form from the college proving that the student actually attended the college for a tour or visit (preferred). Most colleges have their own forms, which are available through the admissions office.
2. If a guided tour or visit is not possible, a picture of the student taken in front of the college sign will be accepted.

This is a tradition, not a holiday or an excused absence, that happens the Monday after prom. Although it is not encouraged, we leave the choice of skipping up to senior students. If they choose to skip, then it is counted as an unexcused absence, and they should be fully aware of any consequences that arise from their decision.

At the beginning of the year, please make sure that you have listed all people authorized to pick up your students on the authorized pickup list.  If you need to make changes, forms are available at the attendance office.