Attendance

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Monroe High School wants your student to be successful.  Encouraging your student to attend school regularly and to be on time for class each day is very important.  It leads to a positive learning environment for everyone.
 

REPORTING AN ABSENCE

Students are expected to attend all assigned classes each day.  If your student is absent, we encourage families to excuse the absence within 72 hours. 

Parents and/or guardians can excuse students by:
  1. Calling the attendance line at 360.804.4501--this number is available 24 hours a day
  2. A written note signed by the parent/guardian
  3. Entering absence online via Family Access
  4. An email from the parents/guardians email account to the attendance secretary at braunk@monroe.wednet.edu
When notifying MHS of a student’s absence, please indicate:
  • Student's first and last name
  • Date(s) of absence(s)
  • Reason for the absence(s)

Please note - the attendance line rings frequently during the day. If you call and receive our voicemail, please leave a message.  Voicemail is checked regularly throughout the day.

Every effort will be made to record all attendance notifications by 3:00 p.m.  Notifications received after 3:00 p.m. will be recorded the next school day. Parents/guardians can view their student's attendance history by logging into Family Access. 

Parents/guardians should receive an automated phone call, text, and/or email if your student has been marked absent (including 10+ mins late and leaving class for over 10+ mins) for one or more classes in a day. These notifications go out at 9 a.m. AND 2:30 p.m.

If your student is participating in sports and has an appointment during the school day they need to have a prearranged excused absence to participate in scheduled sports activities.

MARKED ABSENT IN ERROR

If a student was marked absent by a teacher and you believe it is an error, the student should contact the teacher.  The teacher can then ask the Attendance Office to update/correct the student's attendance record.

If a student has been marked absent by a substitute teacher, the student can either contact the substitute teacher or the regular classroom teacher who can advise the Attendance Office to update the attendance record. Most often, the regular classroom teacher is able to determine if the student was in class based on work completed or turned in.

The Attendance Office will not excuse a student marked absent by a teacher or a substitute teacher without confirmation that there was an error.

EARLY RELEASES

To help minimize classroom disruptions, please notify the attendance office as early as possible if your student needs to be released early. Early notification enables your student to be ready to leave on their own or ready for parents/guardians to pick up at the specified time.  We appreciate your cooperation.

Students who need to leave school early will receive a prearranged pass from the Main Office - per parent/guardian request. Students are also required to sign out at the Main Office when leaving campus. (This does not apply to students participating in sports/pre-arranged programs).

If you are picking up your student early (without prior communication), please come into the Main Office and sign them out with your ID. If someone other than the parent/guardian is picking up the student, the main office must be notified and the person needs to present ID.

TARDIES

Students are expected to be in their class by the final bell. Students who arrive late to school must sign in at the Main Office and receive a pass before attending class. Any student entering class after the bell rings but within the first 10 minutes will be marked as TARDY (T). Any student who enters class after 10 minutes will be marked as a BEYOND 10+ MINUTES (B). This is an unexcused absence.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

All students are required to have a pass when moving around the building during class times. Any student who leaves class for longer than permitted, generally 10 minutes, will be marked as LEFT CLASS FOR 10+ MINUTES (L). This is an unexcused absence.

If your student has 3 unexcused absences within 30 days - we must schedule a conference with you to identify barriers to attendance and offer support and resources to assist your family.

If your student has between 2-7 unexcused absences in a school year - we must schedule a conference with you to identify barriers to attendance and offer support and resources to assist your family, conduct the WARNS assessment with your student, AND refer the student and guardian to meet with the Community Engagement Board. If your student has an Individualized Education Plan or a 504 Plan, the team that created the plan needs to reconvene.

We are required by state law to file a petition with the Juvenile Court sometime between your student’s 7th unexcused absence within 30 days OR 15 unexcused absences within the school year, alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010, the mandatory attendance laws. The petition will be automatically stayed and your student and family will be referred to a Community Engagement Board or other coordinated means of intervention. If our collective efforts are not enough to increase your student’s attendance, the stay may be lifted and the court may require a hearing.