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Green Mountain Elementary School

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Report Absences

Report Absences

If your child will be absent from school, contact our attendance secretary with the following information:

✏️ Student’s Full Name
✅ Grade
📅 Date of Absence
🤒 Reason for absence (particularly if your child has flu or respiratory symptoms)

Call us anytime at 360-662-8700 or Report Absences Online

 

Attendance

WA State law requires that all children attend school regularly. Success in school depends on regular attendance.  A repeated pattern of absences, tardiness and early dismissals interrupts the instruction of your child and, therefore, involves consequences for parents and students.

Please contact the main office if your child is staying home. Otherwise, a robocall will be made to parents to verify the absence. 

Absences are excused for:

  • Illness
  • Health care appointments
  • School-approved activities
  • Parental approved activities (such as vacations, visitation of relatives, etc.) with the pre-approval from the principal. This ensures that we meet the law and plan for any potential disruption to your child’s education.
  • Religious reasons: The right of parents to determine when their child may be absent from public school in order to observe a religious holiday shall not be limited by school officials

Students with five unexcused absences in a month or 10 in a year must be reported to the state as truant.  Two unexcused absences in a month required a conference with the principal.  WA State Law requires us to notify the prosecutor’s office. Read more about laws related to unexcused absences.

Students arriving late to school must check in at the office and get a tardy pass. If a child plans to buy lunch but will be tardy, the school office must be notified by 9:30 am.

Early dismissal from school for appointments, such as medical and dental, will be excused if a note from the parent or guardian is presented in advance.

Parents coming to pick up their children early must come to the office and sign them out.  We will not call students to the office until parents are at the office for pick up.  No child will be released to anyone other than a parent/guardian without verbal or written permission from the parent/guardian.

Usually after 3 days of missed school, teachers can prepare homework packets, if requested.  Teachers need atleast 24 hours to get homework packets together.  

  • Absences are excused for:

    • Illness
    • Health care appointments
    • School-approved activities
    • Parental approved activities (such as vacations, visitation of relatives, etc.) with the pre-approval from the principal. This ensures that we meet the law and plan for any potential disruption to your child’s education.
    • Religious reasons: The right of parents to determine when their child may be absent from public school in order to observe a religious holiday shall not be limited by school officials

  • Students with five unexcused absences in a month or 10 in a year must be reported to the state as truant.  Two unexcused absences in a month required a conference with the principal.  WA State Law requires us to notify the prosecutor’s office. Read more about laws related to unexcused absences.

  • Students arriving late to school must check in at the office and get a tardy pass. If a child plans to buy lunch but will be tardy, the school office must be notified by 9:30 am.

  • Early dismissal from school for appointments, such as medical and dental, will be excused if a note from the parent or guardian is presented in advance.

    Parents coming to pick up their children early must come to the office and sign them out.  We will not call students to the office until parents are at the office for pick up.  No child will be released to anyone other than a parent/guardian without verbal or written permission from the parent/guardian.

  • Usually after 3 days of missed school, teachers can prepare homework packets, if requested.  Teachers need atleast 24 hours to get homework packets together.  

Good attendance is a great way to promote success in school. Being in class and on time are strongly linked with students who do well in school. This is why we take attendance so seriously.

Contact us as soon as possible if you know your child will be absent.  If we do not hear from you before 10am, you will receive an automated call.  You must contact us within two school days after your child’s absence to be excused. According to our district policy and state law, your child’s absence may be excused for illnesses, religious observances and family emergencies. Unexcused absences  can carry serious consequences.

If you are planning an absence that will require your child to miss school for more than 3 days, please complete and submit an Extended Absence Request to the office at least five (5) school days prior to the absence.