Attendance, Responsibility,
And School Success
Research shows us that prompt and regular school attendance
is an important key to student success in school. Each student
in the West Valley School District according to his/her level
of maturity, is expected to demonstrate respect, concern, and
caring for all staff, students, and community…follow the
school and district rules and to conduct him/herself in a responsible
manner as a member of the school community. An important part
of this goal is prompt and regular school attendance by all
students.
With this in mind, we understand there are sometimes illnesses
and emergencies, which may cause your child to miss school. However,
please pre-arrange all other absences with the school office
and plan on having your child collect work from his or her teacher(s)
so that they will miss as little classroom instruction as possible.
Student Attendance Laws
Washington law holds students ages 6 through 18 years of age
and their parent(s)/guardian(s) accountable for the student's
attendance. Under state law RCW 28A.225.010, school districts
are required to petition the juvenile court for legal action
after a student has FIVE to SEVEN unexcused absences in a calendar
month OR TEN unexcused absences in a year. Parents may also
be fined $25 a day for their child's unexcused absences. West
Valley School District's policy is more restrictive counting
one period of unexcused absence as one (1) day.
District Guidelines for Excused Absences:
- Absence due to illness or health conditions, family emergency
or religious purposes.
- Pre-arranged absences of parent-approved activities when
also approved by school principal.
- Extended illness due to verified health condition.
- Participation in school-approved activity.
- Absences resulting from disciplinary actions or short-term
suspensions.
District Guidelines
for Unexcused Absences
Please call the school any day your child will be absent.
Parent(s)/guardian(s) must submit excuses within 48 hours of
the absence. Only absences, which meet District standards, will
be excused. School staff will communicate (e.g., conferences,
letters, telephone calls) with parents/guardian(s) regarding
student absences. An absence which does not fit the above definitions
will be considered a truancy even though an excuse is submitted.
Daily Attendance Counts!
Please help us show your child that daily attendance is important
and that you are willing to help them be successful by planning
vacations and other appointments around the school district
instructional calendar.
Tardy Policy
In order to address excessive tardiness to either school or
class, it is the policy of the West Valley School District
that unexcused tardies will be counted toward an unexcused
absence. Excused tardies are counted by fractions of a school
day. Throughout the district, six (6) unexcused tardies equal
one unexcused absence, unless the tardiness causes the student
to miss most of the instruction, in which case it will be considered
a half day of absence.
Definition of an Excused Tardy
An excused tardy, like an excused absence, must fall into
one of the following three categories:
- Student illness or health condition;
- School initiated;
- Religious observance; or
- Emergency.
To verify an excused tardy, parent(s)/ guardian(s) must notify
the school either by phone, written note or in person when
the student arrives at school.
Examples of Possible Unexcused Tardiness
- Frequent car trouble;
- Oversleeping;
- Babysitting;
- Missing school bus, etc.
Parent(s)/guardian(s) are strongly encouraged to make appointments
(doctor, dentist, etc.) for their child after school to avoid
interruption of the school day. If a student's tardiness becomes
excessive, a parent conference will be required with the principal
or designee in order to implement a plan to reduce tardiness.
The Community Attendance Review Board may also be used in cases
of excessive tardiness.
Did You Know…
Area employers are looking for workers
that are prompt and regular in their
attendance. Will your child be prepared
for the world of work? Please help us
prepare our students for life after school
by encouraging prompt and regular school
attendance!
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For more information related to Student Attendance,
contact:
Your School Principal,
School Attendance Secretary,
School Counselor,
Or
District Office
972-6000
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Did You Know…
The number of days absent from school , the
number of hours spent watching TV, and number
of pages read for homework are important factors
in determining school success.
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8902 Zier Road