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Attendance Policy
Did you know that...
- the major source of funding for all public school districts is student attendance?
- ANY absence, whether excused (i.e. illness) or unexcused (i.e. family trip) results in a LOSS of funding of $40/day?
- S.V.U.S.D. loses millions each year due to absences?
- if each student only missed 3 full days of school, our district would earn $600,000 in revenue.
- a student who attends ANY portion of the school day (i.e. before/after an appointment, first or last period, etc.) generates a full day's revenue?
More critical than lost revenue to the District is the opportunity for student learning that is missed when students are not in school. We are asking parents to assist us in our endeavor by making sure your students are here every day on time.
Closed Campus
Altimira
is a closed campus. Visitors and parents MUST check in at the office
upon arrival to sign in and pick up a pass. Once students arrive on
school grounds in the morning, they may not leave campus. students are
to remain on school grounds during the school day. Students are not
allowed to leave school-sponsored activities (i.e. dances) without a
parent/guardian. Student visitors are not allowed. Students who are
going to leave school early for any reason during the day must be
signed out at the Attendance Office.
Excused Absence
A student receives an excused absence for the following reasons:
1) Illness
2) Medical/dental appointment
3) Bereavement for immediate family member or close relative
Court subpoena/appearance
Unexcused Absence (Truancy)
A student who is absent for any reason other than those mentioned below, including personal/family trip/vacation, receives an unexcused absence.
An unexcused absence will result in truancy letters. The Sonoma County
District Attorney's office receives copies of all truancy letters and
documents truancies.
Reporting Absences (935-6024)
For your convenience, the Attendance phone can take calls regarding
your child's absences. The machine is on 24 hours a day so that parents
may leave a message regarding absences at any time. All absences must
be verified either by a telehone message or a note. Absences not
verified by parent or guardian become unexcused and are subject to
school action.
Late Arrival to School
Students must check in at the attendance office before going to class.
Be sure to send a written excuse. Students who are late and have no
note will be given an after-school detention.
Tardy to School
Students arriving late to class (other than first period) will receive an after-school detention from their teacher.
Appointments During the School Day
If your child must leave during the school day for any reason, please
send a note indicating the time you will be meeting him/her in the
Attendance Office to sign out. It is the student's responsibility to
present the note to his/her teacher in order to be excused to the
office. This procedure alleviates classroom interruption and saves time
for parents and office staff. Remember: schools receive a full day's
revenue for ANY portion of the day attended, so it is important to send
your child to school before and after appointments whenever possible.
For non-illness, unavoidable absences of more than five consecutive days, contact 935-6020 (ext.264), at least two weeks before the absence, to request Independent Study informatiuon. Students absent for more than three weeks may be disenrolled.
