Attendance

Regular attendance at school is essential to promote maximum academic achievement and it is a requirement of state law.  The district is mandated to proceed with the truancy process if attendance becomes problematic.  Please keep your child home only when it is necessary.  One criteria of a student’s success in school is regular and punctual attendance.  No single factor interferes with a student’s progress more quickly than frequent tardiness or absences.  Students’ achievement and regular attendance is very closely related. 

Frequent absences lead to lack of interest and effort, sometimes to failure.  Students and parents have the responsibility of seeing that school attendance is regular and punctual.  Make-up work is allowed for excused absences only.  The following should be considered excused absences:

• A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absences the administrator of the school has approved.  Prearranged absences shall be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only, which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours.
• A student who is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental, or emotional disability.
• A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advanced approval by the administration.
• Absences arranged for in advance and verified by the parent.

When a student is going to be absent, we ask parents to call the school before 9 a.m. to notify us of the absence.  If we receive no call, we will call the numbers provided on the emergency card in an attempt to confirm that the child is safe. Please advise the school immediately of any changes on your address or phone number during the school year.

Tardy Policy, Attendance and Release

Students who arrive after 9:00 a.m. are considered tardy and must report to the office to obtain a tardy slip.   Parents/guardians will receive via mail an Absence Letter when their student obtains 5 absences not supported by official documentation (medical, legal, funeral).  A Tardy Letter will also be sent home for any student who is tardy 8 or more times.  A sanction letter from the truancy attorney will be sent if absences exceed 10 days or tardies continue to be a problem.  Students with 15 or more absences will need to meet with the principal and/or Project Attend Manager and set up an Attendance Contract.  Noncompliance with the Attendance Contract will result in a referral to Project Attend, Interagency, or Truancy Court. 

During the school day, no student will be allowed to leave the school with anyone not listed on the emergency card unless the office is notified by the parent or guardian.The Project Attend Program provides parents with support concerning attendance issues.  The Project Attend Manager assists families with accessing support services to promote safe healthy schools and families.  This program works to increase parent involvement and increase community awareness of the importance of attendance.

Alice Terry's Health/Attendance Clerk
Barbara Furman
4485 S Lowell Blvd. Sheridan, CO 80110
720-833-6660
furmanb@sheridan.k12.co.us