Attendance and the Daily Discussion Forum

1.1.3

Section 1 — General School Information

Attendance and the Daily Discussion Forum

At CPA, attendance is measured by your daily presence in the school community — primarily through the Daily Discussion Forum.

How attendance works at CPA

Attendance is recorded through your participation in the Daily Discussion Forum (DDF). Every school day, a devotional prompt or discussion topic is posted. You are required to respond to it. Your response is your attendance for that day.

A summer student who does not post in the DDF for a school day is marked absent. A student who is excessively absent will be withdrawn from the school.

Attendance is serious

Your DDF participation directly determines your School Attendance Grade and your Regular Engagement Grade, which becomes part of your official academic record.

What counts as a valid DDF post

Not every post counts. A valid post must:

  • Directly answer the prompt — not just acknowledge it
  • Be written in complete sentences with grade-appropriate grammar
  • Show genuine personal reflection — "I agree" or "Nice devotion" does not count
  • Be kind and respectful in tone, even when you disagree
  • Be posted before midnight on that school day — the forum locks at midnight with no late credit

Correction before penalty

If your post is not substantive, your teacher or staff member will correct you. The first time, it is a reminder — not a penalty. If it becomes a pattern, the post is treated as absent.

Why the DDF matters beyond attendance

The DDF is more than an attendance mechanism. It is a daily faith formation activity. You are engaging with Scripture, devotional content, and the CPA community every school day. Responding to classmates in the DDF, posting in the Prayer Forum, and building real connections with fellow students — these are all expressions of your faith in action.

Your DDF participation feeds directly into the Regular Engagement category of your holistic grade (5% of your overall grade). How consistently and genuinely you engage matters.

 

DDF post guidelines

[Prompt]

Answer the DDF prompt

Each day contains a different prompt. Answer it directly and completely.

[Clock]

Post before midnight

The forum locks at midnight. Late posts are not accepted for any reason.

[Kind]

Be kind

You may disagree with a classmate — but use diplomatic, respectful language. This is a Christian school community.

[Date]

Post on the correct date

Posts must be made on the actual school day. Do not post for a previous day.