From the Attendance Office at SMMS:
We kindly ask that you keep your child home only when it’s absolutely necessary.
Bear in mind that every school-day missed puts your student more than two days behind his/her classmates. Consider, too, that California has changed the way its schools are funded; we receive funding only when students are present at school.
ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL
Excused absences are those due to an illness, a medical appointment, a court appearance, a death in the family, or a religious holiday.
Each absence from school must be reported to the Attendance Office by a parent/guardian within 72 hours of occurrence, as required by state law. Notify us every day that your student is absent.
If we do not hear from a parent/guardian regarding your student’s absence, we will attempt to telephone you in the evening. Your student must bring a note to the Attendance Office before school on the day he/she returns only if you have not already contacted us about the absence.
Please understand that all absences are considered unexcused—and will be marked as truancies after 24 hours—until we hear from a parent/guardian.
Repeated unexcused absences for all or part of the school day, including absences from school without knowledge or consent of parents and/or unexcused tardiness, constitutes truancy under the State Education Code, Students who have numerous unexcused absences, tardies, or truancies from school may be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) for official intervention. When a student exceeds 10 absences in a school year for illness, the school or district may require further absences to be verified by a physician.
LATE ARRIVAL TO SCHOOL
Should your student arrive late to school for any reason, he/she must check in at the Attendance Office before going to class. For safety reasons, it is important for school staff to be aware that your child is now on campus.
You may notify us in any one of the following ways:
*By phone call or voicemail message: 760.290.2510
*By email or ParentSquare message: [email protected]
*By parent or doctor note
LEAVING CAMPUS EARLY
Parents are required to come to the Front Office to meet and sign out their student. Students may not meet parents in the parking lot or drop-off lane. Photo Identification is required when signing out a student. Your student will only be released to those persons listed on his/her emergency card.
INDEPENDENT STUDY CONTRACT
If you are pre-planning an absence of three or more days, your student may be eligible for an Independent Study Contract.
* Contracts are available through the Counseling Office and must be signed—by both parents and the student.
*Please notify the Counseling Office at least two weeks before the student’s absence begins.
*Your student may receive both academic and attendance credit for assignments completed and returned under a study contract.
*All work must be completed when the student returns to school to receive full credit.
For more information, please contact the School Registrar at 760-290-2505 or email [email protected]
CHANGE OF ADDRESS/PHONE NUMBER
If you should have a change in your address, phone number, or emergency phone numbers, please notify the office immediately. In the event your child becomes ill or is injured, authorized persons must be able to be contacted.
** Attendance Office Phone: 760-290-2510 **