Attendance & Absence
Attendance 24 hr Hotline: Call our Staff Secretary at (408) 635-2852 ext 1508
Attendance Policies
Attendance
The state mandates consistent attendance by all students more critical than ever before. Please remember that schools receive funding from the state for education of all students based ONLY on the number of students actually in school each day. If your child is absent, it is your responsibility to call the attendance line by 8:45 a.m. each and every day the student is out.
By law [EC § 48205], excused absences are: illness (fever 100° or more, your child must be fever free for twenty four hours before returning to school], persistent runny nose with yellow-green mucous discharge, rashes [unless there is a note from your physician stating that your child is not contagious], vomiting [If your child is sent home vomiting he/she needs to be vomit free for twenty four hours before returning to school], diarrhea [If your child is sent home from school with diarrhea he/she needs to be diarrhea free for twenty four hours before returning to school], medical/dental appointments (doctor’s note required for verification), death in the family, specific religious reasons, required appearance in court, and exclusion from school for contagious disease.
Vacations are not considered an excused absence, whether the school is notified ahead of time or not. Families can apply for one independent study per school year in the event that the school is notified at least two school weeks in advance and that the absence is minimum 3 and no more than 14 days. Students must complete all assigned work in the Independent Study contract according to the deadlines in the contract or the absence is considered unexcused.
Tardiness occasionally occurs due to unforeseen circumstances. A tardy student must report to the office and get a tardy slip before reporting to the classroom. A student who is absent frequently, or who arrives late repeatedly will receive a truancy notification per the education code. If the problem continues, the principal or designee will meet with the parents and student in person or via phone. If necessary, the District Child Welfare and Attendance Supervisor can be involved in any truancy case.
If your child is to leave school during the day, please send a message via parentsqaure his or her teacher indicating when your child must leave class. Before leaving, you will be asked to sign out your child at the school office. If someone other than a parent is to pick up a child, please ensure they are on the emergency list. For their safety, children are to be picked up by a parent or designated guardian and are not to walk home or to appointments during the school day.
Illness
Unfortunately, children will be affected by illness from time-to-time. There are common illnesses such as colds and the flu. Also, there are communicable diseases that may affect children at school. First and foremost, use common sense and good judgment when making a decision about your child’s attendance at school relative to illness. Children should not attend school if:
They have a fever. Students may return to school when they are 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medicine (even if they feel better).
They are vomiting.
They have a communicable disease (see list under Communicable Disease.)
Parents are responsible to keep their child home until he or she is no longer contagious. Parents must also notify the school if their child is diagnosed with a contagious disease.
Communicable Disease Notices
If your child is sick with one of the following communicable diseases, please give the office a call so notification can be sent to the other students in the classroom. This gives parents the information that their child may have been exposed so that proactive measures can be taken. The communicable conditions that require us to notify parents regarding possible exposure are:
Chicken Pox German measles Hand, foot, and mouth disease
Measles Mumps Scabies
Slap Cheek Pinworm Ringworm
Whooping Cough Head Lice Pinkeye
Shingles Streptococcal (scarlet fever and strep throat)
