Skip to main content
Attendance & Our School » Policies - Attendance and Absences

Policies - Attendance and Absences

kelly sigl attendance technician

Attendance & Absence Information

 

Reporting an Absence

Parents and guardians should report all absences by calling the Attendance Line at (510) 317-5599. Please leave a message each day your student is absent, unless you have already provided a specific date range. For convenience, absences may also be reported by emailing Kelly Sigl, Attendance Technician.

          📩Email Kelly Sigl

Closed Campus

 

Our school is a closed campus. Once students arrive—whether they walk, ride a bike, take the bus, or are dropped off—they are expected to remain on school grounds for the entire school day, including lunch. The only exception is if a student is properly checked out through the office by an authorized adult who is listed on the student’s emergency contact card. All adults signing students out must be at least 18 years old and present a valid photo ID.

 

Attendance Procedures

 

Daily school attendance is essential to academic success. Unless your student is ill, they are expected to attend every day. Whenever possible, please schedule medical and dental appointments outside of school hours. Students may return to school following an appointment.

All absences must be verified by a phone call, email, or written note from a parent, guardian, or doctor. If no call has been made, students should bring a note to the office before going to class on the day they return. For medical or dental absences, an appointment card from the provider is required. Absences not cleared within three days will be recorded as “cuts” and considered truant. Students who are absent during the school day may not participate in after-school activities such as sports, practices, school dances, or other events unless cleared by administration.

 

Excused Absences

 

The following are excused:

 

  • Illness
  • Medical or dental appointments
  • Funeral of a family member
  • ONE cultural or religious observance per semester
  • Court or government appointments (proof of appointment given to school required)
  • Time with an immediate family member on active duty military deployment
 

All other absences (including family trips or vacations) are unexcused, but not considered cuts if the school is notified in advance.

 

Leaving Campus

 

If a student needs to leave school for an appointment, the office must be notified so that an Off Grounds Pass can be issued. Students must be signed out in the attendance office by a parent, guardian, or an emergency contact listed on the student’s file, and photo ID is required. Leaving campus without permission will be considered a cut.

If a parent or guardian needs to add a new adult to the contact list, please email the office with a copy of your photo ID, the name of the person being added, and their relationship to the student.

 

First Period Tardies

 

School begins each day at 8:15 a.m. Students arriving after 8:30 a.m. must check in at the main office to receive a tardy slip, which must then be shown to their teacher upon entering class. Frequent tardies not only affect learning but can also have a negative impact on grades.

 

Cutting and Truancy

 

Students who cut classes or who have chronic tardies may be referred to the Student Attendance Review Team (SART), which works with families to address attendance concerns. If attendance does not improve, students may be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB), a mandatory district-level meeting.

According to California Education Code 48260, a student is considered truant if they are absent without a valid excuse for more than three days in a school year, or if they are tardy by more than 30 minutes on three or more occasions. Truancies are reported to the District Child Welfare and Attendance Office, and parents will be contacted.

 

 

Letters 

 

California law mandates that schools notify parents about their child's unexcused and excessive excused absences, as defined by the state's compulsory education requirements. Parents and guardians will receive letters for the following reasons:

 

  • Truancy:  When a student missed more than 30 minutes of instruction without an excused reason three times during the school year.
  • Excessive Excused: When a student has missed more than three days during the school year with a valid excuse. 

 

Homework During Absences

 

For excused absences, students are allowed one day to make up assignments for each day they are absent. It is the student’s responsibility to ask teachers for any missed work.

If a student is absent due to illness for more than three consecutive days, families may request a homework packet by contacting the main office.

Please allow 24 hours for preparation before pickup. Homework requests for future planned absences are at the discretion of teachers. Please note that homework is not provided in advance and is not required for days missed due to suspension or unexcused cuts.

 

Dances and On Site Event Days

 

Students MUST attend a minimum of 4 class periods of the school day in order to participate in ANY after school activity (i.e. sports, practice, games, dances, etc.)