Mills Attendance Policy
All students in grades 9,
10, and 11 will be enrolled for a six or seven period day.
Students in grade 12 shall be enrolled for a minimum of six
instructional periods each day during the fall semester and
five instructional periods during the spring semester. All
students who are enrolled in the community college system,
the Regional Occupational Program, or Work Experience shall
be enrolled on the high school campus for a minimum of five
instructional periods each school day for the fall semester
and four instructional periods for the spring semester.
Attendance in school is mandatory for all students under the age of 18. Illness,
quarantine, medical, optometric, dental services, the funeral of members
of student’s immediate family (as defined in Education Code 45194),
jury duty, and observance of religious holiday or ceremony are the only
legal reasons for a student to be absent from school.
Students are expected to clear an absence within two school days after they
return to school. Absences must be cleared by a parent/guardian phone call
or a note explaining the absence. Absences not cleared after two school days
will be considered a truancy unless approved by an administrator. The school
may initiate contact with the parent/guardian if the absence is not cleared.
The parent/guardian and student should make every effort to schedule non-school
appointments outside school hours. If this is unavoidable, the student must
bring a parent/guardian note or have the parent/guardian call the Attendance
Office to obtain a “Permit to Leave” prior to departure. Students
leaving without a “Permit to Leave” form will be considered truant.
Please follow one of these two steps to clear absences:
1.
On any day your student is absent, notify the Attendance Office by phone
at (650) 558-2508 or (650) 558-2509 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 10:00
a.m.
Or
2. Submit a written note in ink, including student name and ID number, days,
and dates of absence, reason, and signature. The note must include the writer’s
relationship to the student plus the home, work, and/or cell telephone numbers.
This is to be submitted to the Attendance Office on the day of the student’s
return to school. The parent/guardian of an 18-year old student is expected to follow the same
attendance procedures regarding notes and telephone calls.
Illness: Verified quarantine, medical, dental, or optometry services are defined
by state law excused absences. Students are permitted to make up all work missed.
Non-Illness: Absences not caused by illness that cannot be avoided may be excused
upon proper verification at the discretion of an administrator upon proper
verification. The school should be notified in advance, whenever possible.
Students are permitted to make up all work missed if the absence is excused.
Religious: Pupils with the written consent of their parents or guardian may
be excused from school in order to participate in religious or moral exercises
and instruction as provided by Education Code. Students are permitted to
make up all work missed.
Suspension: When a student is suspended, a reasonable effort will be made to
contact the parent/guardian in person or by telephone. A suspended student
is not permitted on any campus or allowed to attend any school event. Police
involvement may be called upon. Upon request, the teacher may provide assignments
to students on suspension.
Unexcused Absences
A student is truant when the absence is not excused. A truant student may receive
a grade penalty if he/she does not meet the conditions set forth in the teacher’s
class management plan. The teacher is not obligated to permit the makeup of
missed work for unexcused absences. A truant student’s grade may be affected
by work missed during the truancy.
No student may participate in any school activity or athletic contest if he/she
has been truant from school during any portion of the day.
Hall Passes
Students are required to have an authorized hall pass in their possession whenever
a teacher releases them during a class period.
Again, consistent attendance is clearly associated with Academic Achievement.
