Attendance - Olympic High School
Olympic High School » About » Rules & Conduct » Attendance
Attendance is critical for student learning. If students are not present at school, they cannot engage in learning. As a leading indicator of equity, attendance can signal when students might need additional academic support and/or emotional assistance or services. Chronic absenteeism impacts all students—no matter their age. Students who miss just two days a month for any reason are more likely to not have academic success and jeopardize their pathway to graduation.
Daily Attendance Taking
Secondary schools must take attendance daily in each course with planned instruction. School districts maintain a responsibility to take attendance for students expected to attend in-person learning with the same frequency they did prior to COVID to verify student presence in their assigned learning settings throughout the day.
The first period of the day begins at 7:50 AM. The main doors will automatically lock at 8 AM. Students who arrive to school after that time need to check in at the attendance desk with Ms. Love, our attendance professional. Students will then receive a pass to attend their first class of the day.
Throughout the day, students are expected to use their five-minute passing time efficiently. The five-minute passing time is sufficient time to get from one class to another. Students should do their best to arrive to each class on time. After three tardies in a week’s time, a student will meet with an administrator or Dean of Students to formulate a plan and or discuss consequences.
Early Dismissal and/or Leaving Campus
Olympic High is a closed campus. Students need prior parental and/or administrator permission to leave campus during the school day (7:50-2:35), including lunch time. Regardless, all students should check out at the attendance office if they plan to leave the building at any time during the day. If students are participating in a club or activity after school, they should check out with the supervising adult of that activity.
In order to accommodate parent /guardian requests for dismissals that occur during the school day, parents are asked to allow sufficient time for processing early dismissal requests. Due to the busy nature of the Attendance Office and daily student schedules, we cannot guarantee student pick up time without at least 60 minutes notice.
If /When a student needs to retrieve an item from a car, please stop at the attendance desk to sign out and take a pass to get the item(s).
When a student is absent for any reason, a parent or guardian needs to contact the attendance office within 48 hours to clear the absence:
Send a note with your student upon return to school explaining the absence
Call the Attendance Office, 662-2730, each day your child is absent
Leave a message on the Attendance Office answering machine
Please share the specific reason for the absence — particularly if your child has flu or respiratory symptoms (see the list below for EXCUSED absences
Failure to excuse an absence will result in a discipline referral. It is the student’s responsibility to contact teachers to obtain missing assignments/homework. If an excused absence exceeds three days, parents/students should contact the Attendance Office for homework.
Parents may request homework after their child has been absent three consecutive days.
If you know you will be absent, please fill out the Pre-Arranged Absence form After parent/guardian signs the form, student will take it to teachers to get homework assignments in advance to keep up on work while absent.
(a) Illness, health condition, or medical appointment (including, but not limited to, medical, counseling, dental, optometry, pregnancy, and in-patient or out-patient treatment for chemical dependency or mental health) for the student or person for whom the student is legally responsible
(b) Family emergency (including, but not limited to, a death or illness in the family)
(c) Religious or cultural purpose (including observance of a religious or cultural holiday or participation in religious or cultural instruction);
(d) Court, judicial proceeding, court-ordered activity, or jury service
(e) Postsecondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation, or scholarship interview
(f) State-recognized search and rescue activities consistent with RCW 28A.225.055
(g) Absence directly related to the student's homeless or foster care/dependency status
(h) Absences related to deployment activities of a parent or legal guardian who is an active-duty member consistent with RCW 28A.705.010
(i) Absences due to suspensions, expulsions, or emergency expulsions imposed pursuant to chapter 392-400 WAC if the student is not receiving educational services and is not enrolled in qualifying "course of study" activities as defined in WAC 392-121-107
(j) Absences due to student safety concerns (including absences related to threats, assaults, or bullying)
(k) Absences due to a student's migrant status
(m) Absences due to the student's lack of necessary instructional tools (including internet access or connectivity).