Attendance

Daily Attendance Matters

As the proud principal of our wonderful elementary school, I wanted to take a moment to emphasize the crucial role that regular attendance plays, especially since our students are enrolled in our Spanish Immersion Program.
In our unique language immersion environment, the primary model for acquiring the target language is the teacher. Our dedicated educators are committed to providing an authentic and immersive experience in the Spanish language, creating a vibrant learning atmosphere for our students. However, achieving fluency in a second language requires consistent exposure and practice.
Given that our school community is not predominantly Spanish-speaking, the classroom becomes the hub for language acquisition. Your child's attendance is key to maximizing this linguistic immersion. Regular participation ensures that they receive the full benefit of our engaging curriculum and the invaluable opportunity to interact with their peers and teachers in Spanish.
As we strive to nurture a supportive and inclusive environment, each day of attendance contributes significantly to your child's language development and overall academic success. Additionally, it fosters a sense of community among our students, creating lasting friendships and enhancing their cultural awareness.
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, but we kindly request your cooperation in prioritizing attendance and punctuality. Together, we can empower your child to excel in our Spanish Immersion Program, providing them with a strong foundation for future academic and personal achievements.

Student absences also affect school budgets. Schools and school districts get a significant amount of their funding based on the number of students who attend school each day. This is called Average Daily Attendance (ADA). Potential losses in ADA revenue affect all students because they can lead to budget cuts affecting a variety of programs, as well as individual schools. To learn more, visit the district"s Calculating ADA page.

For more information on the benefits of Dual Language programs:

www.cal.org/twi/toolkit/PI/Basics_Eng.pdf

2020-2021 Virtual Open House Presentation

 

Student Attendance Laws

All children between 6 and 18 years of age are required by California's Education Code to attend school, and their parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their child's attendance. The law also states that a student's refusal to attend school regularly can result in referral to the community-based School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Juvenile Probation, or the Juvenile Court System. Additionally, parents who fail to compel their child's attendance may face criminal prosecution and penalties.

Excused/Unexcused Absences

The only absences that are excused as mandated by the State of California are those due to illness, medical or dental appointments, funeral services and bereavement, court appearances, family emergencies, Independent Study Contracts (if completed), or religious holidays or ceremonies.

Unexcused absences include, but are not limited to, those due to oversleeping, transportation issues, going on vacation, or similar situations.

For guidance on when to keep your child home from school due to illness, see the Student Health page.

 

Planned Absence in Excess of Five Days

If your child will be absent from school for five or more days, please contact the school office at least one week ahead and make arrangements for a short-term Contract for Independent Study (CIS) for the absence period. Academic assignments will then be given to the student to complete during the absence. When the student returns and turns in the successfully completed assignments, he/she will be given credit for the missed days. For attendance purposes, they will not be considered unexcused absences. Without the contract, however, the absence would be unexcused. Independent study contracts are not available for students receiving special education support.

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