The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 133, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 1, 2009 Page: 3 of 12
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Thursday, January 1, 2009
www.thealbanynews.net
The Albany News
Page 3
Amber Boyett named Moran Good Citizen
By Kathryn Stapp
Lee's Legion Chapter
of the Daughters of the
American revolution has an-
nounced the selection of one
student each from Albany
and Moran high schools to
.serve as 2009 DAR Good
Citizens.
Amanda Vinson of Al-
bany and Amber Boyett of
Moran, both seniors, were
named to represent the local
DAR chapter as this year's
honorees.
Students, who are chosen
must have the qualities of
dependability-cooperation,
truthfulness, loyalty and
punctuality; service - cour-
tesy and consideration of
others; leadership - person-
ality, self-control and ability
to assume responsibility;
and patriotism - unselfish
interest in family, school,
community and nation.
The two county Good
Citizens will be recognized
and introduced at the DAR's
February meeting.
Boyett's biography ap-
pears in this week's paper.
Vinson was interviewed in
last week's edition of the
New,s.
Moran High School se-
nior Amber Boyett is a well-
rounded student, having
been involved in leadership,
academic and athletic pur-
suits during her high school
career. ♦
She is a cheerleader cap-
tain and has been very ac-
tive in UIL athletic events,
including volleyball, basket-
ball, tennis, golf and track
manager.
On J;he FFAteam, she has
competed in senior creed
speaking, and has worked in
animal projects with calves,
pigs and goats.
Student service activi-
ties include assisting with
kindergarten and first grade
recess periods.
Outside of school activi-
ties, Boyett has worked with
a weekly children's program
for younger children during
: the summer to provide a
time for activities and "let
them have good, clean fun
and stay out of trouble."
She has also been in-
volved with community
clean-up groups.
Hobbies include sports,
animals, family activities,
and fishing. The daughter of
Donovon and Sallie Boyett,
the Moran student hopes to
^attend Sul Ross University
to study animal science,
with plans to later attend
Texas A&M for a veterinary
degree.
Absences can result in loss of credits
Parents should
be aware of law
By Kathryn Stapp
Some local high school
students may be in danger
of losing class credits be-
cause of excessive absences
or tardies.
Some parents may not
be aware that state law re-
quires a student to be in at-
tendance at least 90 percent
of the time each semester,
according to information
provided by Albany princi-
pal Tommy Terrell.
"This isn't anything new,"
said Terrell. "This law has
been in effect for several
years; it's listed in our stu-
dent handbook. But every
semester, we have students
who aren't concerned about
their absences until they've
reached a point where cred-
its are actually taken away,
even though the student
may be passing the class."
The biggest problem with
explaining the lost credits
to parents and students, he
continued, is that absences
are counted even if they are
"excused" by a doctor or by
a parent.
The law states that if a
student is absent from a
class more than 10 percent
of the time during any se-
mester, he or she should not
receive credit for that class,
explained the principal.
A typical semester is 90
days, so a student cannot
be absent more than nine
class periods.
"Nine times may not
sound like a lot, but that's
a total of almost nine hours
of instructional time per
missed class, and close to
35 hours if the student is
absent for nine whole school
days."
Three Tardies =
Absence
Terrell also emphasized
that excessive tardies can
result in problems for stu-
dents. "The state says that
three unexcused tardies
adds up to an absence, and
that counts against atten-
dance just like an absence.
The greatest number of
occurrences of both absences
and tardies are for first
period and the period right
after lunch.
"It's a ongoing problem.
Some students seem to have
trouble making it to those
classes," said Terrell. "And
even if a parent calls in an
excuse for that absence and
it's recorded as an excused
absence, that won't matter
if your student misses too
much class."
A local policy instituted
several years ago requires
parents to call or a doctor's
note to be provided in order
for a student to have an
excused absence.
"Before the policy was
changed, we just required
a note from parents rather
than a documented tele--
phone call, but because of
the increasing number of
forged parental notes, it
became necessary to ask for
personal contact."
"The kids'don't think it's
a big deal to be late, but it
is," said Terrell. "And par-
ents need to be conscious
of how many times their
student has missed school
or a class."
The principal commented
that the TxConnect online
system being utilized again
this year by the district
is helping communicate
with parents about their
students'absences. Parents
may find policy information
and attendance records at
http://www.albany.e8d4.
nef.
Parents can also receive
e-mail "alerts" if their child
is late or absent for a class
within minutes of its occur-
rence, explained Terrell.
They also have the ability
to check the total number of
absences and tardies for the
first or second semester, as
well as grades.
"If you don't have com*
puter access or you can't
figure it out, call the school
' office," said Terrell. "We can
easily pull up an attendance
record, although we don't
release that information to
anyone except parents.
"Also, check your stu-
dent's report card at the
end of every six weeks and
see how many absences and
tardies are recorded."
Students who have more
than one tardy gre/equired
to serve time in detention
hall. Three tardies results
in ISS plus two detention
hall penalties.
Attendance Committee
Class credits are taken
away by the state, the
principal emphasized, but
a locally appointed atten-
dance committee does have
the authority to reinstate
the credits should there be
extenuating circumstances
and if certain conditions are
met by the student.
"Routine illnesses may
not be considered an ex-
tenuating circumstance," he
said. "Normally, this applies
to a long-term illness, preg-
nancy, an accident or some
other similar situation."
A student and the stu-
dent's parent or guardian
shall be given written notice
prior to and at the time when
a student's attendance in
any class drops below 90
percent of the days the class
is offered.
When a student's at-
tendance drops below 90
percent but remains at least
at 75 percent of the days the
class is offered, the student
may earn credit for the class
by completing a plan ap-
proved by the principal.
This plan must provide
for the student to meet the
instructional requirements
of the class as determined
by the principal. ,
If the student fails to
successfully complete the
plan, or when a student's
attendance drops below 75
percent of the days the class
is offered, the student par-
ent, or representative may
request award of credit by
submitting a written peti-
tion to the appropriate at-
tendance committee.
Petitions fof credit may
be filed at any time the
student receives notice but,
in any event, no later than
30 days after the last day
of classes.
The attendance commit-
tee will review the student's
entire attendance record
and the reasons for ab-
sences and shall determine
whether to award credit.
The committee hi ay also,
whether a petition is filed or
not, review the records of all
students whose attendance
drops below 90 percent of
the days the class is offered.
Students who have lost
credit because of excessive
absences may regain credit
by fulfilling the require-
ments established by the
attendance committee.
The principal stressed
that parents must be in-
volved in the hearing pro-
cess. "If a parent doesn't
call us and make plans to be
present for the hearing, no
concessions for making up
time will be made for that
student," he said.
If, during a hearing, the
committeefules that there
are indeedextenuating cir-
cumstances, its members
must then devise a method
by which the student can
regain his credit.
The principal stated that
several students may begin
attending "Saturday school"
in January to make up for
class time they've missed.
Test Schedule
Excessive absences will
become even more critical
during the next couple of
mpnths, said Terrell.
The first of this year's
TAKS tests will be adminis-
tered on March 3, with four
others following in April.
Students have been pre-
paring for TAKS tests since
classes began in August, but
class time during the next
two months is especially
important. 'The kids need to
be in class as much pos-
sible. Unless they're really
sick, please make sure they
don't miss any school,"
For more information
about excessive absences,
Terrell can be contacted
during the school dav at
762-3974:
Re: €oi©;if oM Lights
Hit
As well meaning as the community leaders
were - and as OK as the light fixtures are - they
are not ALBANY - and are a distraction from the
normal PEACEFUL and WESTERN feel one has
entering Albany.
The dark color is not Peaceful and Western.
Could we please change the color to sandstone
(the color of the Courthouse), which is the
traditional Albany color, so that the poles will
blend with our precious heritage.
Once Victorian black is introduced, it will
creep into Main Street through the years and ,
we will lose our valued look and feel. Let's stay
authentic. This would be a small concession to
make to preserve the Albany look, and heal a
sadness in the hearts of some.
|ANE HOOKER
AMBER BOYETT
MHaiCYj
. 325/823-320:
H fax 325/823-3038
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Lucas, Melinda L. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 133, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 1, 2009, newspaper, January 1, 2009; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth393395/m1/3/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.