As unexcused absences continue to plague the school, the administration reinstated the no-pass list, according to grade level coordinator Kiki Christensen.

“I know that we’ve had (the no-pass list) for a couple of years now, and we tried to start this year without it and see how it would go,” Christensen said. “However, since there has been so much activity in the hallways, so many absences and so many students coming to class late or leaving class early, we’ve decided to bring the system back.”

Assistant principal Kari Schwietering said students on the no-pass list should never have passes in their possession.

“They shouldn’t have any passes at all,” Schwietering said. “There are some exceptions where students would be allowed in the hall for, let’s say, health, then that would be allowed. If it’s a situation where they need to go somewhere then we can set that up with our teachers and grade level counselors, they just physically cannot have a pass.”

Schwietering said to get off the no-pass list, students must have fewer than five unexcused absences in a five-week period.

“Attendance is pulled every five weeks,” Schwietering said. “From there, whoever shows improvement will be taken off the list and those who now have five or more unexcused absences will be put on.”

Schwietering said students on the list may only leave with an escort.

“It’s not meant to stop students from getting where they need to be nor to stop students from accessing certain resources,” Schwietering said.“It’s an incentive to get students to go class on time and to not be missing class.”

Christensen said she already sees the list’s positive effects.

“It’s only been going for a month this year, (and) I have noticed that kids are more aware,” Christensen said. “So, in effect, to those who are on the no-pass list, it is helping.”

Junior Keyaira Seamon said she finds the list pointless.

“Most of the teachers don’t really follow it,” Seamon said. “When you ask the teacher they often say ‘well you’re on the no-pass list’ but they let you go anyway, so it’s kind of a useless system.”

Seamon said she believes the system needs an alternate form of implementation.

“It’s not a bad idea, but they have to find a different way to go about it,” Seamon said. “What they’re doing right now — just printing off a piece of paper with grades and students names — won’t work. It’s there and we all know we’re on the no-pass list. However, no one really follows it.”