Attendance Policy

  • Yelm Community Schools places a high priority on school attendance. Studies prove that daily attendance has a direct impact on student achievement. Our goal is to have every student arrive on time and attend a full day of school.

    SCHOOL HOURS AND SUPERVISION:  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:  Regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the educational program provided to students of the district.  Students at times may be appropriately absent from class.  School staff will keep a record of absence and tardiness, including a record of excuse statements submitted by a parent/guardian, or in certain cases, students, to document a student's excused absences.  The following principles will govern the development and administration of attendance procedures within the district:
     
    Absences due to the following reasons are excused:
    1.  Physical health or mental health symptoms, illness, health condition or medical appointment (for the       student or person for whom the student is legally responsible.  Examples of symptoms, not limited to, medical, counseling, dental, optometry, pregnancy, and in-patient or out-patient treatment for chemical dependency or mental health) for the student or person for whom the student is legally responsible;
    2.  Family emergency, including but not limited to a death or illness in the family;
    3.  Religious or cultural purpose including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction;
    4.  Court, judicual proceeding, court-ordered activity or jury service.
    5.  Post-secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation, or scholarship interview;
    6.  Stat-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28A.225.055
    7.  Absence directly related to the student's homeless or foster care/dependency status;
    8.  Absences related to deployment activities of a parent or legal guardian who is an active duty member consistent with RCW 28A.705.010;
    9.  Absence due to suspensions, expulsions or emergency expulsions imposed pursuant to chapter 392-400 WAC if the student is not receiving educational services and is not enrolled in qualifying "course of study" activities as defined in WAC 392-121-107;
    10.  Absences due to student safety concerns, including absences related to threats, assaults, or bullying;
    11.  Absences due to a student's migrant status;and
    12.  An approved activity that is consistent with district policy and is mutually agreed upon by the principal or designee and a parent, guardian, or emancipated youth.  Principal (or designee) and parent, guardian, or emancipated youth mutually agreed upon approved activity.
     

    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 by a meeting with the Community Engagement Board if absences continue.  The last step for students not attending school will be a Truancy Petition with 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).

    HALL PASS:  E Hall Pass is a digital pass system for students.  A student can request a pass through their mobile device and/or the approving staff member can enter it on their computer.  The digital pass lists the day, time, location, and the length of time the student is away from class.  E Hall  Pass saves time, paper, and is a safe and accurate way to promote student safety, supervision, and bell to bell instruction.

    ATTENDANCE FOR 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.)

    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).