Attendance
California State Law requires regular attendance at school. Responsibility for attending class lies with the student.
Absence from school shall be excused only for health reasons, family emergencies and justifiable personal reasons. (See Ed code 46010). Any student who is absent without a valid excuse for three or more days in one school year or tardy or absent (leaving early) for more than any 30 minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, is a truant and shall be reported as such. All absences must be verified by a parent/guardian by phoning the 24-Hour Attendance Hot Line 445-3245 ext 138 on that day, or by sending a written note when the student returns. Absences must be cleared within 72 hours of the absence. Excessive absences will result in a letter to the parent/guardian and/or may result in the student being referred to the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB).
IMPORTANT !!!!! NOTE - THERE ARE TWO NEW DISTRICT-WIDE ATTENDANCE POLICIES:
1) Absences must be cleared within 72 hours of the absence. Absences not cleared within 72 hours will be recorded as unexcused absences and could result in the student being declared a truant.
2) When a student has had 14 absences in the school year for illness verified by a parent, ANY FURTHER ABSENCES MUST BE VERIFIED BY A PHYSICIAN.
Tardiness
Students are to be in their seats and ready to learn when the bell rings. Students arriving in the classroom after the bell are tardy. A parent or guardian must accompany tardy students to the tardy window each time a student is tardy. Tardiness is a disruptive behavior and will be treated as a discipline problem. Excessive tardies may result in a declaration of truancy.
Early Release
A student who must leave school before the end of the school day MUST bring a note from their parent/guardian stating the time, the reason and the name of the person who will be picking them up. Notes should be presented to the Attendance Office first thing in the morning. A pass will be issued to allow the student to leave class early and wait in the Attendance Office. Unexcused early releases could result in truancy (see Attendance).
Independent Study Contracts
Students who will be away from school for five or more days may apply for an Independent Study Contract at the Attendance Office at least one week before the first date of absence. Successful completion of an Independent Study does not count towards a perfect attendance award.
Missed Classwork or Homework
It is the responsibility of a student who is absent for one or two days to call his/her "Study Buddy" to get missed assignments. After a student has been absent a third consecutive day, the parent may call the school to arrange for missed work to be picked up the following day in the Front Office. "Study Buddies" should be arranged by the student and the numbers recorded in the front of this handbook.
Late Work
Late work will only be accepted within one week of a grade report or other notification. Students in grade 6 will receive 70% credit, and 7th and 8th grade students will receive 50% credit. Assignments that are not handed in due to an excused absence will still have one day for each day of excused absence and will count for full credit.
Perfect Attendance Awards
Quarterly perfect attendance requires that a student has no absences and no tardies. Independent Study and Out of School Suspensions are counted against perfect attendance; In-School Suspensions are not.
Transfers/Withdrawals
Parents of withdrawing students must notify the Attendance Office prior to the student's last day. A student's withdrawal is complete when all fines, textbooks and records are cleared and a transfer/withdrawal form is completed.
Dismissal
Students not attending an after school activity must be picked up by 2:15. Those students left behind must wait and be signed out by the parent in Library.