El Toro High School

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

2009/2010

I.  Full Day Absence Procedures – Notes from Parent or Guardian

A. When a student is absent, the parent or guardian must  send a note with the student upon return to school.  The note must contain the dates of absence and reason for absence.  The student must have a readmit from the Attendance Office prior to returning to their first class of the day.  Students should plan on arriving at the windows early to avoid lines and avoid receiving a tardy.  Clearing an absence is not an excuse for being late to class.

AN ABSENCE NOTE SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

1.  Student’s full name, 2. Date(s) of the absence (not “yesterday”, day of the week absent, nor the number of days absent), 3. Specific cause of the absence (if the excuse is doctor—doctor verification on the note is required or a note from doctor would be sufficient), 4.  If student gone partial day, the note must state what period(s) are to be excused.           

B. If the parent or guardian did not write a note, a truant pending readmit will be issued.  The student will have 3 days upon return from an absence to clear the absence or it will be permanently recorded as a truancy.  Saturday School will be assigned for the truancy.  Any student who is caught with a forged note will no longer be able to be readmitted with a parent/guardian note unless the parent has phoned about the absence first.  A student forged note will mean assigned Saturday school/in-house suspension, or home suspension.

C. Duplicate Readmits:  A half hour detention will be assigned to students who request a duplicate.

II.  Early Dismissals – Note Prior to Absence

 A.  If a student needs to leave campus for any reason, they must bring a note prior to their first class of the day.  An early dismissal will be issued for that day and will serve as a note to obtain a readmit when the student returns to school.  Continued absence after the day the permit was issued requires a note from the parent or guardian.  All early dismissal notes are confirmed by attendance before issuing them to students.  If a student leaves campus without an “Early Dismissal,” he/she will receive a truancy.  Whenever possible, please allow 24 hours notice so the early dismissal request can be verified by the attendance office.

B. All absences resulting from a doctor or dental appointment must be verified by the doctor or dental office (i.e., doctor’s stamp on the early dismissal form or note from the doctor’s office).

C. If an accident or injury occurs during the school day, no matter how minor, the student must report to the nurse’s office.  Any student who becomes ill during the school day must also report to the nurse’s office or attendance office.  A students’ parent, guardian or other responsible adult listed on the emergency card must be contacted by the office for permission to release the student from school.  A student who does not get a permit to leave must return to class.  No student is to leave campus at anytime during the day without going through the early dismissal process from the nurse’s office or attendance office.  If this procedure is not followed the student will be issued a Saturday School.  We do not accept a note from home or phone call from the parent/guardian the next day to excuse an absence for leaving campus without going through the office first.

D. When it is necessary for a student to arrive late and miss one or more periods, he must bring a note from the parent and obtain a readmit from the Attendance Office before returning to the classes that were missed.

E. If 11^th or 12^th grade students leave at lunch and do not return to class, they MUST have a parent call that day or it will be a truant.  Parent must call the school before 4:00 p.m. to report absence to the attendance office.

III.  Extended Absences – phone call (949) 586-6333

A. Any student absent five days or more because of an infectious illness must report to the Assistant Principal’s Office before obtaining a readmit.

B. For any extended absences, the parent or guardian must call the Attendance Office.  The Attendance Office phone number is (949) 586-6333.

C. Any student returning to school with a physician’s note (including physical education limitations) must report to the Assistant Principal’s Office.

D. Extended Vacations – Families leaving on vacation that requires their student(s) missing school must complete an Independent Study contract through the guidance office, inclusive of teacher assignments for days missed.  Independent Study contract applies to students that are five or more days absent.  When the student returns, the teacher will “sign off” homework completed and absences will then be excused.  All assignments are due the day the student returns from vacation.  Vacations taken without advance paperwork completed and teacher sign-off will be considered unexcused absences.

Parents/Guardians:  Please keep the guidance office and attendance office informed of any changes in home/work telephone numbers.  If you are able to leave the attendance office with cellular phone numbers and pager numbers as well, this will assist the school even more so when attempting to reach a parent(s) or guardian(s).  We may need them in case of an emergency.  The desired educational climate can only be accomplished when responsibility for attendance and behavior is assumed by the student.  El Toro High School believes in open communication between the school and the parents of students.  If problems do arise, please feel free to contact the school.