ATTENDANCE

All information on this page addresses the importance of good attendance.   Whenever a child is removed from  school valuable  learning  is  lost.    The actual  classroom experience  can  never  be  duplicated   nor  replaced   with  make up  or out-of-class work such as independent study.  Thus, it’s imperative that parents limit the amount of time students are “away” from school for any reason

                  Absence

      Schools can excuse absences (whole or partial days) for illness, bereavement, and medical appointments.  Absences for other reasons OR excused absences not cleared by a parent phone call or note within 3 days upon a student’s return to school are unexcused.  Students who have 3 unexcused absences are classified as truant (Ed. Code 48260) and receive a letter. To avoid this issue report absences via our 24 hour phone message service (787-4151). Students forget notes; so call. A note upon return is suggested even if you call. 

     Remember, our promotion criteria only allows 12 absences (partial or whole) per year for any reason.  Try to get appointments after-school.  If this is not possible, bring your child back to school after the appointment or ensure s/he is in school until the appointment time.

    Parents occasionally take children out of school for extended periods.  State law allows these absences under  “independent study.” To qualify the absence must be more than 3 days but less than 2 weeks--parents must notify the  attendance secretary at least ONE WEEK prior to leaving and properly complete and return all paper work. The child must complete all assignments prior to the first day s/he returns to school. Failure to follow the process will result in the student being “unexcused,” truant, and given F grades for all assignments.  Students gone on a trip more than 2 weeks are dropped from enrollment.

    Student who failed to complete work from an  independent study contract in the prior year will not be granted independent study in the prior year. 

Re-Admit Slip

.

  Students returning from an absent or late to school must report to the office.

.

Tardies

.

    l  All tardies are “unexcused”—no matter what the reason. Students are to be fully inside the classroom when the bell rings.  They are expected to immediately sit at their desks and copy the class agenda.  Students are given two “free” tardies each trimester for emergencies, illness, etc. On the 3rd consequences apply (see below). Tardies more than 30 minutes are “truancy tardies” (i.e. unexcused absences). 

  3rd    lunch detention

  4th    after school detention      

  5th   Saturday School/activity loss/

           parent conference

Between class tardies, teachers issue a consequence on tardy #2; consequence and notify parents on tardy #3; and refer student to the principal on tardy #4. 

Early Release

.

     If students must leave school during the day send a signed parent note to the office. Students will only be released  to the adult indicated on the note.  That adult should pick the student up at the office.  To maximize safety and learning, visitors should never go directly to a classroom for a child. Come to the office; we will get your child.

.

Emergency Release

.

     Each child needs an updated emergency card on file. List changes (phones #s at home/work and of a responsible friend or relative) so we may contact someone in an emergency. Please write on the first page of your child’s planner a phone # indicating where you may be contacted in case your child is ill or you need to be contacted directly by the office,  teacher  or  another  adult.