School hours are 7:25am-1:50pm. The safety of students is of utmost importance to us. We have no regular after school supervision available. Individual after school activities will be communicated by supervising district personnel.

EXCUSED ABSENCES
Students are expected to attend ALL assigned classes each day unless excused by the parent/guardian for valid reasons below.

• Participation in a school-approved activity: This absence must be authorized by a staff member and prior notification must be provided to parent/guardian for approval. (IE., field trips)
• Illness, health condition, health care appointments, family emergency, or religious/cultural purpose: We encourage parents/guardians to schedule appointments during non-school hours whenever possible. School officials may require a health professional’s written note when a student has more than 3 consecutive absences. Families are encouraged to acquire a health professional’s written note whenever possible and submit a copy to the Attendance Office.
• Parental/Family Pre-Arranged Absence: Parents/Guardians are to notify the school if there will be a pre-arranged absence from school.  The absence may be classified as unexcused if the student is under an Attendance Agreement, BECCA order, or has an adverse effect on the student’s education or student has already reached 10 absences for the school year or 10% of the current year. The Pre-Arranged Absence Form is available at each school office.
• Court, judicial proceedings court-ordered activity or absences related to homeless or foster care status.
• Suspensions from school.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Unexcused absences are defined as “failure on the part of the parent/guardian to notify the school in a timely manner.”

REPORTING ABSENCES PROCESS

When your child will be absent from school, you can notify the school in two ways:

1. Send an email to yhs_attendance@ycs.wednet.edu and provide a reason.
2. Call the attendance line at 360.458.6211 and provide a reason.

If your student has not arrived at school or the school hasn’t been notified of the absence by 8:30am, an automated phone call, email and/or text will be sent to the parent/guardian.

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
Chronic absenteeism incorporates all absences: excused, unexcused and suspensions. The focus is on the academic consequences due to the loss of instructional time and preventing absences before students fall behind. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing more than 10% of the school year.  If a student has a pattern of chronic absenteeism, the family will be contacted about the absences and find solutions to help the student with their attendance.  If the pattern continues, the student will be placed on an attendance contract, followed with a meeting with the community Truancy Board if absences continue.  The last step for students not attending school as court ordered will result in the school filing a Contempt and progress report with the Thurston County Juvenile court.  

EARLY DISMISSAL
Parent(s) and/or guardian(s) are asked to make requests for early dismissal of students. To obtain an early dismissal, students are to present a written request from their parent and/or guardian before school on the day they wish to be excused early. This slip is to be presented to the office. An early dismissal slip will then be issued. Parent(s) and/or guardian(s) must come to the office to sign their student out. Students will be expected to make up all class work missed. Verification by a doctor may be required.

LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS
Permission in writing from the office must be obtained in order to leave the campus at any time after arriving on school grounds. No student may leave during the day or at the lunch periods without parent permission and being excused through the office. A student who goes home ill during the day must notify the nurse's office before doing so. Students who fail to check out will be disciplined and may be considered unexcused. After school, a student is expected to go promptly home after the last class, unless attending a school activity. Students are not to loiter on school grounds.

TARDINESS
Any student who misses a portion of class without a pass will earn a Tardy. The only excuse accepted for tardiness to school will be when there has been an unusual circumstance or an emergency (over-sleeping or missing the bus does not constitute an unusual emergency) and the school has been notified by the parent(s) and/or guardian(s).

Tardies are cumulative throughout the Quarter

ATTENDANCE: ACTIVITIES/ATHLETICS
Attendance for secondary athletics--Students are encouraged to be at school every day to get the most out of their academics and grades. If a student misses more than ½ day school they would be ineligible to compete in that day’s event. The AD can clear an athlete for up to ½ day for a qualified excuse with a note (Example: I had a doctor’s appointment and was gone for 2 hours--Doctor’s note - cleared to play.)

Athletic Code of Conduct: Available on our Yelm High School website link here.

WITHDRAWAL FROM SCHOOL: A student withdrawing from school must bring written permission from his/her parent(s) and/or guardian(s). This request is to be presented to the main office. The student will then be given a withdrawal slip, which will be used in checking out. The withdrawal slip is to be brought back to the main office. All fees and fines must be paid before a transcript will be forwarded (RCW 28A.635.060).