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Nisqually Middle School

Home of the Totems

Learners, Independent Thinkers, Compassionate Citizens.

How Attendance works at Nisqually

360-412-4771

First bell: 9:16 am

Attendance taken: 9:20 am in the classroom.

Students arriving later than 9:20 am will need a note or phone call from their parent/guardian to excuse the tardy. Check in at the attendance window to obtain a pass to class. Students with 4 or more unexcused tardies will have detention.

Late bus? Late bus students must check in at the attendance window and get a pass to class. A late bus will not count as a tardy.

How do I report an absence?

Call 360-412-4771 AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. You may leave a message detailing your student's absence.

You may also report the absence through Family Access (directions below).

How do I request an early pickup, change in after-school plans?

Call 360-412-4771 as early as possible, but no later than 3:00 pm on the day of the pick-up/travel change.

For an early pickup, a parent/guardian is required to come in and sign the student out.

Students will not be called out of class during the last period of the day without notice prior to 3:00 pm. We want to have your student ready to leave when you arrive to sign them out. Your student will be prepared with a pass to leave class if notice is received. Without prior notice, you will need to wait until a pass is sent to your student.

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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