Attendance Policies and Procedures

Parents must report all student absences to the Attendance Office.  

Absences MUST be cleared within 48 hours.  Absences not verified by the parent/guardian within the 48-hour timeframe become truant and result in placement into a Warrior Weekend activity.  Absences may be verified by parent/guardian in the following ways:

 

1. Email the attendance office at: WHSAttendance@tusd.org 

2. Submit a written NOTE to the attendance office upon student's return to school. 

ALL Absence verifications MUST include:

Student’s LEGAL name

Date of Absence(s)

Reason for Absence

Parent/Guardian Signature (for written note)

Absences will be excused for reasons listed in CA ED CODE 48205: illness, quarantine, medical appointments with an accompanying doctor’s note, bereavement for immediate family member and jury duty.   All other reasons are unexcused unless prior written approval is given from an administrator.

 

PLEASE NOTE: If you notified the attendance office (within 48 hours) of an absence and see a “U” posted, the absence is considered “CLEARED” and will not go truant. 

 

 

 

MUST BE REQUESTED BY 8:30AM

 

Students needing to leave campus during regular school hours MUST obtain an off-campus pass from the Attendance Office.  Off-Campus passes will only be issued after the Attendance Office verifies the parent request by contacting them on the telephone number on file in PowerSchool. To request an off-campus pass, parents must send an email to whsattendance@tusd.org or send a note with their student to the attendance office by 8:30AM with the following information:

 

Date

Dismissal Time

Student ID Number

Student Legal Name

Reason for Leaving School

Parent Signature

 

Parents/Legal Guardians: Please be aware, any student leaving school without prior approval and an “Off-Campus Pass” (including student-athletes leaving 6th period for appointments) will be issued a “truant.” 

A 6th period SPORT IS A CLASS.  When you use the “athletic” sticker on your ID to leave campus, you are expected to attend the athletic class.  If you are not going to attend, you must obtain an Off-Campus Pass (OCP) even if you have made prior arrangements with your coach.

 

Leaving campus and then not attending your sport’s class will result in a “WALK-OFF TRUANCY” and may lead to a disciplinary consequence. 

Instructions:

• Parent Request
  • Parent/guardian submits a request to the Counseling Office indicating the reason for Independent Study.

• Student–Teacher Communication
  • Students should communicate with each of their teachers to arrange missed assignments, deadlines, and any makeup tests prior to the absence.

• Contract Issued
  • The Counseling Office will email both the student and parent/guardian a Short-Term I.S. contract.

• Digital Signature (Google Form)
  • The student and parent/guardian must complete the Google Form (linked in the email) before the start date of the contract.
  • This serves as the digital signature and must be submitted for the contract to take effect.

• Attendance Update (Incomplete)
  • After the Google Form is submitted, attendance will be marked as “C” (Independent Study Incomplete).

• Submit Work Sample Upon Return
  • Once the student returns to school, please submit one sample of completed work from the Independent Study period.
  • Work may be submitted via email (jo.eri@tusd.org) or in person at the Counseling Office.
  • Acceptable formats include: PDF, photo of a physical copy, or screenshot. Quizzes and tests may not be used as work samples.

• Attendance Update (Completed)
  • After all assignments and tests are completed, graded, and posted, attendance will be updated to “J” (Independent Study Completed).

If a student becomes ill at school, they must notify their teacher and a pass to the health office will be issued.  Parents will be contacted by the health office before a student can be released.

 

Parents may also email the health office for an off-campus pass due to illness at whshealthoffice@tusd.org.

 

Students who have had a communicable disease (i.e. pink eye, mononucleosis, chicken pox, etc.) must check with the school nurse before being readmitted to class.

 

We thank you for your support of these attendance procedures & policies

The purpose of this section on our school website is to outline the state mandates and our district and school policies as related to school attendance.

 

The Board of Education believes that regular attendance plays an important role in student achievement. The Board shall work with parents/guardians and students to ensure their compliance with all state attendance laws, and may use appropriate legal means to correct problems of chronic absence or truancy.

 

Absence from school shall be excused only for health reasons, family emergencies, and justifiable personal reasons, as permitted by law, Board policy, and administrative regulations. (Education Code 46010, 48216, 48205)

Inasmuch as class participation is an integral part of students’ learning experiences, parents/guardians and students shall be encouraged to schedule medical appointments during non-school hours.

 

 

If your student plans to be absent for one or more consecutive days, they may be eligible for a Short-Term Independent Study contract, which can be requested through the Counseling Office (jo.eri@tusd.org | ext. 7614).

 

If a student misses class without a valid reason and does not subsequently turn in homework, take a test, or fulfill another class requirement that he/she missed, the teacher may lower the students’ grade for non-performance. (cf. 6154 – Homework/Makeup Work).

 

Students shall not be absent from school without their parents/guardians’ knowledge or consent except in cases of medical emergency or confidential medical appointment.

Student absence for religious instruction or participation in religious exercises away from school property may be considered excused subject to law and administrative regulations. (Education Code 46014)

The Board shall approve reasonable methods that may be used to verify student absences due to illness or quarantine.  (5 CCR 421)

 

If a student misses class without an excuse and does not subsequently turn in homework, take a test or fulfill another class requirement that he/she missed, the teacher may lower the student's grade for nonperformance.(cf. 6154 - Homework/Makeup Work)

 

In order to keep students in a supervised, safe and orderly environment, the Board of Education establishes a closed campus at all District schools.

Students shall not leave the school grounds at any time during the school day without written permission of their parents/guardians and school authorities.  Students who leave school without authorization shall be classified truant and subject to disciplinary action. (cf. 5113 - Absences and Excuses)