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Attendance (Absences, Early Out, Tardies & No Drop-Offs)

Absent/Leaving Early/Tardies/Truancies

Absent/Leaving Early/Tardies/Truancies

PROCEDURES
It is our goal at Fred Newhart Middle School that students attend classes regularly and have a successful school year. To that end, it will be helpful for each family to maintain communication with the Attendance Office Staff.
 
Whenever your child is absent, please call the absence message line at (949) 587-9467 the same day as the absence as early as possible. DO NOT LEAVE EARLY OUT OR DR. APPT MESSAGES ON THIS LINE.
 
When calling the message line, please speak slowly and clearly spell the full name of your child and give their grade. Also, please leave one of the reasons for the absence listed below:
  • Illness: including medical appointments (teacher will allow make up work)
  • Funerals
  • Court Date
  • Religious Event
  • Personal Business: any absence not listed above.
    • For example, non-medical appointments, vacation, oversleeping, etc. Generally, these absences are considered unexcused, and it is up to the discretion of the teachers to allow make-up work.
 
LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY
Please send your student with a note stating the reason and time of dismissal to the Attendance window on the morning they need to leave school early to get a Special Excuse Pass. This should be done before school starts.  Your child/student should bring the note to the Attendance window, before school starts.  In cases of an emergency, please arrive 10 to 15 minutes ahead of the time you would like your child to leave, to allow time for your child/student to be called out of class.  Please do not leave a message on the Attendance Line or call the front office. Keep in mind that students have different classes to attend during PAWS Tues- Fri: 12:35PM to 1:00PM and may take much longer to find during lunch time (Mon: 1:10pm to 1:45pm and Tues- Fri: 1:00pm to 1:35pm), please schedule to come before or after these times.
 
TARDIES
Students who arrive late to class create a disruption to the classroom teacher and students, regardless of the reason the student is late.  
Students are expected to be at school on time. If a child is late, the child should bring a written excuse from home or a doctors note to the Attendance window and will be given a Tardy slip to give to their Teacher. Frequent tardiness without a valid excuse is considered truancy under state law.
 
 
TRUANCIES
Any absence that is not cleared by the office within 72 hours (Ed. Code) will become a truancy and disciplinary action may be taken by the Assistant Principal. Students are expected to be responsible for their attendance record. The school suggests the following: check with teachers (especially on sub days) to verify roll, respond immediately when uncleared absence letters are mailed home, and periodically call the attendance office to verify attendance. In the event your child/ student is repeatedly truant, it is a good practice to call the attendance often to verify attendance.
 
NO ITEMS DROP OFF/NO LUNCH DROP-OFF:
In an effort to protect instructional time and limit distractions any items forgotten at home such as homework, P.E. clothes, lunches or lunch money MAY NOT be dropped off at school. Students who have forgotten their lunch money will be provided a lunch from the cafeteria. Items from delivery services such as GrubHub and DoorDash are NOT permitted. Items for large groups of students - fast food, cakes, and party items are NOT permitted.  Students are not permitted to meet cars or parents in the parking lot during school hours. Newhart is a closed campus. All visitors must check-in and –out at the front office.
CUSD ATTENDANCE CODE MATRIX
  • A = Unverified Absence
  • B = Left Campus Without Permission
  • D = Truancy Conference / Discipline Office has addressed the instance(s)
  • E = Student left school early (unexcused)
  • F = Funeral
  • H = Truant (Absent Without Permission OR Unverified Absence More Than 3 School Days)
  • I = Illness
  • J = Student left school early (excused)
  • K = Religious Holiday
  • L = Excused Absence (Medical, Religious Retreats, Court Appt, College Visits)
  • M = Independent Study
  • N = In-House Suspension
  • O = Office (Nurse, Attendance, Guidance, Discipline, Counseling)
  • Q = Unexcused Tardy > 30 min
  • R = ATS (Alternate Suspension at DO)
  • S = Suspension
  • T = Unexcused Tardy < 30 min
  • U = Unexcused Absence (Personal Reasons, Vacation, Traffic, Weather, Transportation Difficulties)
  • V = Verified School Function or Activity
  • W = Completed Independent Study Contract
  • Y = Excused Tardy