1. Excused Absences: According to California state law, excused absences must fall into one of the following categories:

• Due to illness or injury.
• Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.
• Having medical, dental, optometry, or chiropractic services rendered.
• Attending the funeral services of a member of the immediate family, limited to one day if in California, three days if out of state.

If your child is absent, please:

1. CALL the school at 310-842-4334 and explain the reason for the absence EACH morning the child is out.  Before or after hours you may leave a message on the voice mail system.
2. Upon return, have your child report directly to the school office to pick up his/her “attendance card” (pink card).  Your child must bring a written note, for the teacher, stating the reason for the absence and the dates absent.  We are required to verify all absences in writing.
3. If your child is returning after having a communicable disease, a serious injury, or for any reason might need to restrict his/her activity, please have him/her check into the nurse’s office before going to the classroom.

PART DAY ABSENCE
We encourage you to try to schedule your child's doctor and dental appointments outside school hours.  If this is not possible and your child needs to be absent for part of the day, please check into the office first.  Students will be dismissed only through the office to the parent or to the emergency contacts listed on the registration form.  This is for your child's protection as well as ours.

EXTENDED ABSENCES
Students absences for greater than 10 school days will be dropped from the school rolls.  Upon return, the student will be re-enrolled if space is available, in accordance with district policy.  A parent can request independent study for the student during the extended leave by making the request in writing 5 days prior to departure and meeting with the school principal.  The assignments are to be completed and submitted to the teacher upon return.  This policy does not apply to students with illness or medical situations causing the extended absences.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXCUSES
If students need to be excused from PE, they need a written note from a parent or medical provider.

 
TARDIES
A student entering class late not only impacts their own learning but also disrupts the flow of the classroom and impacts the entire community of learners.  We recognize there are times when unexpected events occur that cause students to be late.  We also acknowledge that parents play a large part in the punctuality of the students, but students are part of the team as well and must do their part to be at school on time.  Our tardy policy stresses the importance of promptness as a valued “work ethic.”  Discussion with the student about tardies will be held in private as will the assigning of consequences. Tardies are recorded on attendance sheets.  Students with repeated tardies may be asked to make up any missed work.

Excused tardies are those due to illness, injury, medical appointments (verified by a doctor’s note), or funeral attendance. 

TARDY POLICY (Based on the Trimester)

1-5th unexcused tardies            Classroom policy

6th unexcused tardy                    1st letter from the office sent home in addition to class consequence.

7th-9th unexcused tardy             Parent-teacher contact and class consequence for each addition tardy.

10th unexcused tardy                  2nd  letter from the office sent home.

12th unexcused tardies              Administrator-student conference.

13th  unexcused tardy                 School Attendance Review Team (SART) meeting (parent, student, teacher, administrator, Family                                                                        Center/socialworker) to develop a student contract.

If the student continues to be tardy, the family will be referred to the School Attendance Review Board.