Poor attendance or tardiness will affect your grade. Allow me to spell this out for you in the most explicit terms. Without such an e-mail, I will consider any absence inexcusable. Do not interpret this to mean that you have two free skip days. You are still responsible for the work you miss, and you will receive a grade of zero for each assignment you miss because of an inexcusable absence.
Many students miss the first day or two of the semester because they registered late.
These absences are not excusable. Please warn your parents that classes will meet on Friday 3 March and Monday 13 March. I strongly discourage missing class on days when papers are due. If your absence is not excusable, then you will receive a grade of zero on the assignment. Tardiness will also hurt your class performance.