[BHS etree] ADMIN: MORE Attendance questions answered

[bhs at idiom.com]

contact: jhuseby at pacbell.net
MORE attendance questions answered.

1.
Q. Is the absence considered UNEXCUSED if the parent calls in but the child
does not pick up the Clearance Slip?
A. No, but teachers know more readily when students show them clearance
slips.

2.
Q. What about "planned absences"?
A. The attendance office has a planned absence form, but we discourage
taking students out of school to travel.

3.
Q. How long does the attendance Office keep clearance slips?
A. Three years after graduation - for audits.

4.
Q. What about absences that are erroneously reported on report cards/
A. Mistakes do happen.  Your child should discuss mistakes with his/her
teachers.


The bottom line: Everyone is absent at one time or another. That is
understandable.  What the administration is particularly worried about are
students who skip classes--who mosey in long after first period has started
or decide to take a leisurely lunch which includes fourth period, or just
don't come back at all after lunch. It hurts their education. How can a
teacher teach a student who is not present? How can a student learn if they
are not there?

Parents should also know that if a child misses four periods in a day the
state docks the school  (close to thirty dollars?) EVEN if a parent excuses
their child, EVEN if the child is legitimately sick.  The money Berkeley
High loses on a regular basis from student absences could easily fund
several more teachers.   We all lose when children don't come to school
Janet Huseby
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Janet Huseby and Kathryn Capps are the facilitators of the etree; please
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