Absence Hotline: (858) 538-9574

In order to help us track the incidence of flu and other illnesses in our school, please provide the following information when calling the hotline or the school to report student absences:

Any temperature your child has experienced office.                                                            When the illness first started.                                                                                         Any symptoms such as cough, sore throat, congestion and runny nose, body aches, stomach aches, diarrhea, vomiting or headache.                                                

Also, please let us know if your child has been seen by a physician and whether there has been a diagnosis of illness.

ABSENCES  |  TARDIES  |  OFF-CAMPUS INDEPENDENT STUDY CONTRACTS (OCIS)

In order for your student to start off and continue on a successful note, it is important for them to be in school every day and on time. However, if your child is sick, please do not send them to school but do call the attendance hotline number to let the office know.

School begins at 8:05 am. The tardy bell rings at 8:10 am. If you arrive at school late you must come to the office for a late slip before going to class.

Absences

• If you are going to be absent you MUST inform the office. If we do not hear from you, an automated message will be sent to your home requesting that you call in within 24 hours. It is District policy that all absences that are not verified by an adult must be recorded as truancy. Please do not ask our teachers to pass on any messages as the beginning of their day is very busy and the information may be delayed.
• If your student has visited a doctor/dentist during their absence, please ask their office for a note for school. This will be beneficial to your child’s attendance record.
• According to PUSD policy, 12 or more absences excused by a parent without a doctor’s note or OCIS contract (please see separate information) is regarded as excessive and we are required to contact home.

Tardies

• Only students with medical appointments and/or illness are considered excused tardies. If you are late because of such an appointment, please provide a note from your doctor, which is a PUSD requirement and which will be of benefit to your child’s attendance records. All doctors, dentists, and orthodontists’ offices provide these readily.
• 5 unexcused tardies within a trimester* will result in a letter home.
• The 6th unexcused tardy will result in a letter home and recess detention.
• The 7th unexcused tardy will result in a final letter home, recess detention and monitoring by the school counselor as a preliminary procedure before SART intervention (School Attendance Review Team). All tardies thereafter will result in an additional recess detention.
• After the 12th tardy, a pre-SART letter will be sent home and the student will be referred to the Attendance and Welfare office.

If you should have any queries, please call the office and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Off Campus Independent Study (OCIS) contract

• If your student will be away from school for 5 days or more due to a vacation or personal commitment, please come to the office to fill in an OCIS contract. This will allow your child to make up the work they will be missing and will also allow them and the school to get full credit for the work as though they were in the classroom. By asking the students to also sign these contracts, we (you as well as the school) are showing them how important their education is.
• Please allow 2 weeks notice in order for the teacher to put the work together and the forms to be processed.

Sundance follows PUSD policies with regards to attendance.