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https://lahs.mvla.net/ParentsStudents/Policies--Procedures/Attendance-and-Tardy-Policy/

Attendance Student Reporting

Attendance Reporting: 650-941-2761

Parents must report an absence within 48 hours of an absence.

 

We accept Attendance notifications from parents/guardians via email.

Please send your email to lahs.attendance@mvla.net.

 
The message must be sent from the parent/guardian's email account that is already on file with SIS student contact information, and include:
  • student first and last name,
  • guardian name,
  • dates or class periods absent, and
  • reason for the absence.
  •  

You may also email advance notice of early excusal for a medical or other appointment in this same way.

Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy

Parents are required to call the attendance office the day their student is absent. Failure to call within 2 school days results in an unexcused absence. The school will not accept late phone calls or notes.  Parents must call the attendance office.  Messages may also be left in Spanish and Vietnamese.  They will be asked the following questions:
  • Parent’s name
  • Student’s name (Please spell last name)
  • Grade
  • I.D. number
  • Date of Absence
  • Partial Day Absence: list specific period/s
  • Reason for Absence
 
24-hour Attendance Line: (650) 941-2761
 
Reporting Absences

Reporting Absences

Parents are required to call the attendance office the day their student is absent as early as possible or within 2 school days of an absence, at the latest.  When parents do not call within 2 school days, the absences are counted as unexcused.  Absences will not be cleared after 48 hours. We will not accept late phone calls.  We do not accept notes.  Parents must call the attendance office.  Messages may also be left in Spanish, Vietnamese, or Chinese.  Please clearly state or spell out the student's last name.

(650) 941–2761..................... 24 Hour Attendance Line
(650) 960-8811 x2024..................... Attendance Office

Please call the attendance clerk, at (650) 960-8831 if you have any questions concerning attendance. For more assistance, your assistant principal is assigned by your student’s last name:

Fabian Morales..................... A-E    (650) 960-8811 x2016
Galen Rosenberg.....................F-Li    (650) 960-8811 x2012
Kristin Castillo.....................Li-R   (650) 960-8811 x2018
Nic Betancur.....................S-Z    (650) 960-8811 x2014

Students leaving campus for appointments during their regular class periods must check out through the attendance office. Please call in advance to excuse these appointments. Students who become ill or injured while at school are required to go to the attendance office so parents can be notified.
 
Calling In and Excusing Absences

Calling In and Excusing Absences

Parents are required to call the attendance office the day their student is absent. When parents do not call within 2 school days, the absences are counted as unexcused. We will not accept late phone calls. We do not accept notes. Parents must call the attendance office. Messages may also be left in Spanish, Vietnamese, or Chinese. Please clearly state or spell out the student's last name. Calls can be made 24 hours a day to (650) 941-2761.
 
Definition of Excused Absence

Definition of Excused Absence

Illness, quarantine, health appointments (medical, dental, and optometry), religious holiday observances, death in the immediate family or serving on jury duty are the only legal reasons to be absent from school. School-initiated activities that cause a student to miss a class are also considered “excused absences.”
 
Definition of Unexcused Absence

Definition of Unexcused Absence

“Cuts” or other absences not classified as excused in the paragraph above are designated as “unexcused absences.”  Unexcused absences will be counted across a student’s entire schedule; e.g. if a student has one unexcused absence in second period, two in third, and one in sixth, that equals four unexcused absences.

Grade Penalty – Students may receive a failing grade in a class if they accumulate 15 or more unexcused absences in that class.
 
Absences

Absences

An “unexcused absence” is an absence in excess of a 30-minute period occurring in a given class. Students may not exceed 14 absences across their entire schedule. A full day, unexcused absence counts as 5, 6, or 7 absences; depending on how many classes a student carries toward the total of 14. On the 15th unexcused absence, students may be referred to an alternative educational program/site pursuant to the District’s involuntary transfer policy (BP 5113/AR 5113).

Points to remember:

 
  1. Unexcused absences will be counted across a student’s entire schedule.
  2. Parents and students will receive telephone calls and mailed warnings as absences accumulate.
  3. At the 10th unexcused period absence, there will be a mandatory parent conference with the student’s Assistant Principal. The conference will be scheduled to occur the morning after the family is contacted by the school.
  4. At the student/parent conference, consequences for continued cutting are discussed and the student is assigned Saturday School. An attendance contract will also be signed at this meeting. Failure to attend Saturday School may result in transfer to an alternative educational program/site.
  5. Students may receive a failing grade (“F”) in a class if they accumulate 6 or more unexcused absences in a given class. Prior to assigning a student a failing grade, the student or student’s parent will be given a reasonable opportunity to explain the absences.
  6. Students are not entitled to make up assignments and tests missed due to unexcused absences or to receive credit for such work when it is made up.
 
 
Tardies

Tardies

Students may not exceed 19 unexcused tardies across their entire schedule.  On the 20th unexcused tardy, students may be referred to an alternative educational program/site pursuant to the District’s involuntary transfer policy.
 

Points to Remember:

  1. Unexcused tardies will be counted across a student’s entire schedule.  An unexcused tardy is absence from class from when the bell rings until up to 30 minutes of a class period.
  2. At the 15th unexcused tardy, there will be a mandatory parent conference with the student’s Assistant Principal.  This conference will be scheduled to occur the morning after the family is contacted by the school.
  3. At the student/parent conference, consequences for continued tardiness are discussed and the student is assigned to Saturday School.  An attendance contract will also be signed at this meeting.  Failure to attend Saturday School may result in transfer to an alternative educational program/site.
 
illness

illness

Students who are ill are encouraged to stay home. Students who become too ill to continue classroom activities must report to the attendance office. The student’s parent or guardian will be notified and will be expected to make appropriate arrangements for the student to leave the campus. It is critical that all emergency numbers be kept up-to-date in the event of student illness or emergency.
 
Definition of Truant

Definition of Truant

A truant is defined as any student who is absent from school without a valid excuse for three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than any 30 minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof. (Ed. Code 48260) A truant will be reported to the Associate Superintendent in charge of Educational Services.
 
Upon a student’s initial classification as a truant, the District will notify the student’s parent or guardian of the following:
  1. Student is a truant
  2. Parent or guardian is obligated to compel the attendance of the student at school
  3. Parents or guardians who fail to meet this obligation may be guilty of an infraction and subject to prosecution
  4. Alternative educational programs are available in the District
  5. Parent or guardian has the right to meet with appropriate school personnel to discuss solutions to the student’s truancy
  6. Student/parent may be subject to prosecution
  7. Student may be subject to suspension, restriction or delay of driving privileges
  8. It is recommended that parent or guardian accompany the student to the school and attend classes with the student for one day.
 
Any student who has been reported as a truant and who is again absent from school without valid excuse one or more days, or tardy, or absent from class for more than 30 minutes on one or more days, will again be reported as a truant to the Associate Superintendent in charge of Educational Services. 
 
Any student is deemed a habitual truant who has been reported as a truant three or more times per school year, as long as an appropriate district officer or employee has made a conscientious effort to hold at least one conference with a parent or guardian or the student and the student himself, after the filing of the reports.
 
Grade Penalty – Students may receive a failing grade in a class if they accumulate 15 or more unexcused absences in that class.
 
Assignment to Alternative Programs

Assignment to Alternative Programs

Students may be transferred to an alternative program under the following conditions:
 
1. Credit Deficiency: A student who is more than 20 units behind in earning credits toward graduation may be assigned to an appropriate alternative program. A credit deficiency of 15 units together with a GPA lower than 2.0 may also result in transfer to an alternative program. (Board Policy 6182, AR 6184).
 
To be  "on target" for graduation, students must have accumulated:
  • 55 credits at the end of their Ninth grade year
  • 110 credits at the end of their Sophomore year
  • 160 credits at the end of their Junior year
 
2. Violation of the district’s attendance policy (outlined above).
 
3. Violation of Education Code 48900 Serious infractions of school rules and regulations, as well as expulsions, will result in a transfer to a Community School for expelled students and those with serious behavior problems.
 
Note: Students who have lost credit in class because of attendance are expected to make up credit in summer school.
 
Emergency Information

Emergency Information

The emergency information sheet is required when a student registers at LAHS. It is important to provide all requested information on this sheet. A current emergency information sheet for each student must be on file in the attendance office. Please report any changes in the emergency information to the attendance office at (650) 960-8832 immediately. It is essential that updated emergency sheets be kept on file in the attendance office.
grading policy

grading policy

Each teacher has an established written grading policy. Students will be informed of the grading policy for each course through the course information sheet that is distributed to students on the first day of class.

Quarter grades reflect students’ progress to date. Semester grades include second and fourth quarter grades and are the official grades that appear on the transcript. Transcripts follow a standard grading system: A, B, C, D, F, P (pass-credit) or I (incomplete).

Progress reports are issued mid-way through each of the four academic quarters.

Students are not entitled to make up assignments and tests missed due to unexcused absences. Excessive unexcused absences may lead to a failing grade in the class in which the absences occurred.

If an absence is excused, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher outside of class and make up missed work within the number of days that he/she was absent.
 
student's rights

student's rights

If a student disagrees with an action taken by a teacher or school official, he/she should first comply with the request and then discuss the matter after class with the teacher. If the issue is not resolved, the student should follow these steps:
  1. Involve parent
  2. Involve counselor
  3. Speak with an assistant principal
  4. Appeal to the principal
  5. Appeal to the district administration  
 
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