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North Thurston Public Schools

Committed to Excellence

Serving the students of Thurston County, Washington

How to Report an Absence at NTHS

Attendance Office: 360-412-4801

Lisa Niles lniles@nthurston.k12.wa.us

Absence reporting options:

Skyward Family Access (instructions below)

A handwritten note (turned in or faxed)

A phone call to the attendance office

Email from parent/guardian to the attendance office

Absences will be recorded as excused only if appropriate documentation is received.

Students are expected to attend all classes each day. A student returning to school after an absence reports directly to class and is expected to make up all the missed work. Students will be given one (1) school day for every day of excused absence to make up the missed work. Teachers may choose to extend the time at their discretion.

Absence Reporting Through Family Access

Log into Family Access. Contact your school's office if you do not know your username and/or password.

If you have multiple students, click on the student you wish to report the absence at the top of the screen (the drop-down at the top if you're using the mobile app).

Click on the Attendance tile

Make sure you're on the Absence Requests (tabs are in the middle of the screen), click Add Absence Request at the very right, choose the appropriate reason, adding notes, and copying the request to multiple students, if needed.

A message will be sent to your office with the information and will be pending until it has been processed.

Watch this video to see it in action!

NTPS Attendance Information

What is good attendance?
Why is good attendance important?
When attendance is good, they do well in school! Regular attendance ensures that:
- Preschoolers build skills and develop good habits for showing up on time
- Elementary students read well by the end of 3rd grade
- Middle & high schoolers stay on track for graduation
When do absences become a problem?
- Satisfactory: 9 or fewer absences means your student can keep up and keep learning!
- Warning Signs: 10 to 17 absences in a school year mean your student will miss a lot and struggle to keep up!
- Chronic Absence: 18 or more days in a year (2 days a month) is enough to warrant meeting with the student and your family to discuss any challenges that we may help overcome.
What happens if a student misses too much school?
Too many absences—excused or unexcused—can keep students from succeeding in school and in life. Students who miss more than 1 school day a month become at risk for longer-term challenges. For example:
- Half of the students who miss 2 to 4 days in September, go on to miss nearly one month of school;
- Chronically absent (2 days a month) students are more likely to drop out of high school;
- Chronically absent kindergartners score 20 percent lower in reading and math in later grades;
- Student absences in 8th grade are 8 times more predictive of 9th grade course failure than test scores;
- Chronic absenteeism is the strongest 6th grade predictor of not graduating from high school.
That’s why if your student has two unexcused absences in one month, state law (RCW 28A.225.020) requires that schools schedule a family conference with the student to identify barriers and supports available to ensure regular attendance.
What can the district do?
What can families do?
Families get their kids to school! The student learns the importance of attendance from their family!
- Make attendance the expectation
- Use early release or days off to schedule appointments if possible
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine & schedule
- Prepare for school the night before
Need more information about attendance?

North Thurston Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Officer: executivedirectorHR@nthurston.k12.wa.us, 360-412-4453; Section 504 Coordinator: 504@nthurston.k12.wa.us, 360-412-4465. Address for both: 305 College Street NE, Lacey, WA 98516.

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