All participants are expected to be on time and present for all classes whether virtual or in-person.

 

Being present means being at class when the program begins. In the virtual setting this means the participant's video camera turned on where the participant's face can clearly be seen. Participants may mute their sessions entering the class, but are expected to unmute to participate in class discussions.

 

Attendance will be taken from the time a participant is first admitted to a zoom class or to the start of an in-person class. Students may be held in the waiting room prior to the start of a virtual class.

 

We understand that unplanned absences will occur. These are to be cleared, if possible, IN ADVANCE of a class. Advance notice is defined as time prior to the start of a class where the class administrator has had adequate time to have a discussion with the student and parent/guardian regarding the missed class and the circumstances surrounding the absence. The day of a class is generally not the time to have this discussion except in the case of an extreme emergency. The Class Administrator has the sole discretion to determine whether the absence is acceptable.

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Participants and parents/guardians should treat each class as if it were a traditional school situation, as Off The Pews is teaching a school-type of responsibility as part of its program. Off The Pews expects participants to be ready and prepared to engage in each class session.

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In the virtual setting, if a student turns off their video camera, and/or does not fill in a recognizable name for the call, that student can be either placed into the waiting room or terminated from the call. This will be considered an unexcused tardy or absence.

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Multiple absences and tardies can result in termination from the program.

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Negative disruptions by a participant to a class will be handled on a case by case basis, and can result in termination from the program.