ATTENDANCE

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Dial 606-4731  - press 1 Attendance Reporting/Recording 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. A note from a parent/guardian is required upon a students return to school after an absence - this is in addition to the original phone message Tardies - there are no excused tardies. Students are allowed two tardies per quarter without consequence. A late arrival due to a medical appointment is not considered a tardy, but rather a partial absence (parent/guardian or doctors note required) Students entering or leaving campus other than the normal starting/dismissal time must be signed out by his/her parent or guardian. A student who is absent more than two days should contact the office and make arrangements for homework. We operate on a positive attendance policy and receive no reimbursement for absences of any kind. Absences, Make-up Work and Homework Unexcused Absences Excused Absences Vacations Funeral services, bereavement Birthday Doctor’s appointment Visiting relatives Illness Oversleeping Quarantine Parent requiring student to perform childcare   Family changing residence within school district   Car trouble   Shopping     Of the above absences (excused and unexcused), which do we get ADA for?   NONE Make-up Work (from Administrative Regulations 6154)   The following will be communicated to students and parents/guardians. 1.      Students shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during an excused absence.  The teacher shall determine the assignments and tests which are reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the assignments and test that the pupil missed during the absence.  The student shall receive full credit if the test is turned in according to a reasonable make-up schedule as determined by the teacher. 2.   Teachers are not required to provide make-up work or allow students to take tests missed because of absences which have been designated “unexcused.” 3.      Teachers shall require a suspended student to complete assignments and/or tests missed during the suspension period. Homework Homework shall relate directly to classroom work and be non-punitive.  It should be reasonable in length to allow time for co-curricular and out-of-school activities.  The objectives of homework are as follows: 1.      To reinforce learning through the practice, application, integration and extension of knowledge and skills. 2.     To encourage independent learning by developing study skills, work habits and a sense of personal responsibility. 3.      To stimulate originality and creativity. 4.      To prepare for classroom participation. 5.      To enrich school experiences which will transfer to leisure and career-centered interests. 6.      To enhance home/school communication 7.      To improve reading skills, promote literacy and develop an appreciation of reading. Assignment of homework shall be consistent with the following guidelines: 1.      In assigning work, administrators and teachers shall be aware of student abilities, student needs, classroom academic standards, and family activities.  Homework assignments should not place an undue burden on students and families. Suggested time is: Middle School grades 6-8: 60-90 minutes per day, four days per week. Exceptions to these guidelines may occur for special projects such as independent research, term reports, and special reading and problem-solving activities especially at the middle and high school levels.  Students in honors and/or advanced placement classes can expect assignments that may exceed the guidelines.  These, as well as other exceptions, shall be communicated to parents/guardians. 2.      The student is responsible for the completion of homework.  To successfully complete assignments, the student is expected to listen carefully to all directions in class, ask questions if the assignment is not clear, budget time wisely, maintain a schedule of study time, and turn in assignments when due.  Students should use parents as a resource for completing assignments. 3.      The parent/guardian is responsible for monitoring the completion of homework.  This may include assisting the student to plan and schedule time, establishing an appropriate environment, participating in assignments which call for parent involvement, and maintaining consistent communication with the teacher. 4.      The principal and teaching staff is responsible for establishing homework requirements consistent with these guidelines.  They are expected to provide information which describes homework expectations, how homework relates to the student’s grades, how parents/guardians can best help their children, and the importance of planning and organizing to meet deadlines.  School planning should occur in coordinating assignments so that students do not receive an overload of homework one day and very little the next day. 5.      The teacher has the responsibility to communicate and explain expectations for homework to students and parents and to monitor homework.  As part of their responsibilities, teachers shall do the following: ·      Assign homework in a timely manner to allow for student questions and planning. ·      Evaluate assignments promptly. ·      Inform students of results. ·      Notify parents/guardians when students are not meeting requirements. 6.      The school shall provide families with information about resources that may be available for students either through school or within the community.  For example, the media center, school websites, and after-school programs may be sources of assistance for students.

 Average Daily Attendance & Lost Revenue – VERY IMPORTANT

At Mendenhall, we are making a concerted effort to reduce absences of all kinds.  There are two reasons for this:  First, the best place for teachers to teach and students to learn the academic skills required to meet state standards is in the classroom.  Student absences do not support this.  Second, Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District cannot afford to lose ADA (the money allotted for each student attending school each day).  

As you know, compulsory daily school attendance is a requirement for all students ages 6-18. Every day a student attends school we receive $34 per student.  Since July 1, 1998, school districts no longer receive funding from the State of California for students who are absent from school.  We do not receive funding for any absence (excused or unexcused) including those related to illness, medical or doctor appointments or for the purpose of attending funeral services.  In other words, schools will receive state funding only for students who actually attend school.  If a child is absent for any reason, we lose revenue.

The following are examples of non-excused absences:  Vacations, student’s birthday, visiting relatives, oversleeping, parent requiring student to perform childcare, family changing residence within school district, car trouble, or shopping. 

What can you do to help?  Schedule vacations to coincide with the district’s instructional calendar (pick one up in the office or check the district web site).  The winter and spring breaks along with school holidays are the appropriate times to plan vacations.  Remember, both non-excused and excused absences result in loss of funding for us.

Some schools are asking parents to pay $34 per day for each absence, to help make up the deficit due to missed school days and ADA.  We do not want to resort to such measures.  However, when parents make poor choices by allowing, or even requiring, their student to miss school to take vacation time or other non-excused absence, that is not acceptable.

When should you keep your child home from school?  If your child has a fever above 99.9 or is throwing up s/he should be kept home from school.  Doctor and dentist appointments should be scheduled so that your child is here for a minimum of 4 full hours of school to avoid loss of ADA.

In the next few weeks we will start using the automatic phone dialer to let you know of your student’s tardies and absences.  Absences not cleared within 3 days will be considered cuts.  Please make sure you contact Mendenhall Attendance at 606-4731 [option 1] to let Sue Carmona, the attendance clerk, know the days and reasons for absences immediately as they occur.  The school will send a formal letter to parents of students who accumulate three days or more of absences, numerous unexcused class periods or numerous tardies.  The letter will inform the family of a potential declaration of truancy on your child’s record according to Education Code 48260.  Students with excessive absences will be required to submit a doctor’s note.  The Child Welfare and Attendance officer will get involved and if the situation does not improve, the case will be turned over to the district attorney.

We need your help.  Please make sure your child is at school all day every day except when they are sick (as described above) so that teachers may teach and your student may learn in the classroom.