How do I dismiss my child from school?

Short version: parents/guardian should send in a note the morning of (or before) the dismissal. List student name, reason for dismissal, parent name, contact phone number, time of dismissal and sign it. Student needs to bring that note to their house office before school on the day of dismissal.

Parent/guardian should also call or email the House Office secretary the morning of the dismissal to verify their dismissal request; then that office will issue a pass for the student to leave class right before dismissal time. If no call or email is received by the House Office, the House Office secretary will call parent/guardian to verify the dismissal. Student will NOT BE CALLED DOWN for dismissal. Student will show their teacher the pass they were issued and then bring the pass to the Main Office in order to leave. They are free to leave the building at the exact time on the pass, and not before.

If parents/guardians do not send in a note requesting a dismissal, they will need to come into the Main Office with a photo ID, and sign their student out of the building. This is disruptive to classroom learning time, as the classroom will have to be called.  We urge you to send in a note ahead of the dismissal whenever possible to smooth the process. If a note has been sent in and verified prior to dismissal, parents can wait in the parking lot in the car for their student. There is no need to come in to the building if you have followed this procedure.

From the FHS School Handbook page 20:

Long version:

Dismissal from school may be granted for medical reasons or home emergencies at the discretion of the School Administration. Medical appointments should be scheduled outside school hours whenever possible.

Dismissals will be allowed for the following reasons:

• Medical appointments
• Court or social service appointment
• Family emergency (undocumented)
• Family bereavement
• Family vacation or family obligation (undocumented)
• Representation of Franklin High School in a school-related activity.
• Illness – as approved by the school nurse and/or administration (undocumented)
• Unusual circumstance deemed appropriate by the assistant principal (may be documented or undocumented per assistant principal)

Upon returning to school, students must present documentation for the dismissal to their Administrative Office. Parents/Guardians and students should be aware that dismissals without documentation will count as undocumented absences for missed classes. Furthermore, per the attendance policy, dismissals due to family vacations, attendance, family obligations or illness (without a doctor’s visit) will count as undocumented absences for missed classes. Students shall have 7 days from the date of return to document the dismissal.

To obtain a dismissal pass, a student must bring a note signed by their parent or guardian requesting permission to leave school that states the time, date, and reason for dismissal; they must bring this note to their house office before or on the day of the requested dismissal. Dismissal notes must also include the name and location of the doctor, and a telephone number where a parent may be reached during the school day. Students dismissed for medical reasons must be dismissed through the school nurse. Students dismissed for non-medical reasons may be dismissed through their assistant principal.

Students who drive themselves home will be allowed to do so at the discretion of the nurse in charge AND with written) parental permission. If a student is deemed unsafe to drive by the nurse due to the nature of the illness or injury, a parent/guardian or emergency contact will be asked to pick the student up. DISMISSAL NOTES MUST BE CONFIRMED THROUGH CONTACT WITH A PARENT PRIOR TO THE STUDENT LEAVING SCHOOL. PARENTS/GUARDIANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR EMAIL THEIR CHILD’S ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE IN THE MORNING ON THE DAY OF THIS DISMISSAL TO CONFIRM THE NOTE. IF THIS CONTACT IS NOT MADE, THE SCHOOL MUST CONTACT THE PARENT BY PHONE PRIOR TO ALLOWING THE STUDENT TO LEAVE.

Dismissal notes should be brought to their Administrative Office before the FIRST period of the day. After administrative approval, the student will be issued a dismissal pass which will, in turn, be shown to the teacher at the time of dismissal, and the student will bring the pass to the Main Office before leaving the building. Students will NOT be called down from class.

If a student has forgotten their dismissal note or requires an unexpected dismissal, that student will not be dismissed unless a parent or guardian comes to the Main Office to sign a dismissal note. For safety reasons, relatives, neighbors, or friends cannot be considered substitutes for a parent or guardian. THE SCHOOL CANNOT DISMISS A STUDENT WITHOUT WRITTEN CONFIRMATION BY NOTE, FAX OR EMAIL FROM A PARENT, GUARDIAN OR EMERGENCY CONTACT.

All absence, tardy and dismissal notes must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. Notes from relatives, neighbors, or friends cannot and will not be accepted. The only accepted signature on any note will be that of a parent or guardian.