With the first semester coming to a close, finals week is rapidly approaching. This year’s finals requirements have been changed to allow for students to not only exempt one, but two finals.

The 2023-2024 school year has seen a tremendous change in how truancy is combatted at Norman North and that is reflected in the new requirements for final exemptions. The new guidelines to exempt one of your finals are focused on outstanding student attendance, behavior, and a grade of a C or higher in the class.

“I think that this is a long-term solution, It’s really about positive reinforcement,” said attendance secretary Lisa Udy.

Udy oversees many aspects of student attendance every day. She said that the new exemption opportunity will encourage more students to come to school and over time fix the issue of truancy at North.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the kids who try their hardest in school, it rewards those who did their best and I believe it should be standard for all schools,” said senior Zachary Maddry.

Maddry supports the new final exemption rules and believes that it will have a good impact on those students who show up and do what they’re supposed to.

In a Newsletter sent out by Head Principal Dr. Kim Garret, she emphasized the importance of student attendance and why these new requirements were established.

“Our belief is that physically attending classes consistently will result in more learning for students even if that learning may not be immediately evident on an assignment,” said Garret. “While there are many valid reasons that students miss school, this extra exemption is a reward for those students who are in school on a regular basis, including those with a B or C.”

The new guidelines for exempting a final are as follows:

– No In-School-Suspension

– No Out-of-School Suspension

– 5 or fewer parent confirmed or medical absences. No unconfirmed absences.

– 2 or fewer tardies in the specific class where the exemption would be used

– A, B, or C in the specific class where the exemption would be used.

– No unconfirmed absences in advisory.

Students can still choose to exempt only one final and can choose to exempt under the new rules or the old ones.

The original rules for final exemption are as follows:

– Student has no more than 2 tardies for the specific class where the exemption would be used.

– Student has 5 or fewer parent-confirmed absences. No unconfirmed absences. (Medically excused absences are not counted.)

– Student has an A in the class.

Students may obtain one of these final exemption forms when finals week approaches, and can choose which form they would like to use. Finals will take place December 18-20 and no finals will be given before those dates. Students who need to miss a final for authorized reasons will be given instructions closer to finals to get administrative approval to take their finals when we return in January.