To Report an Absence

Call 360-412-4781 as early as possible!

You may leave a message detailing your student's absence.

Or report the absence through Family Access (scroll down for instructions)

Or email SMSAttendance@nthurston.k12.wa.us (including contact information)

Change After-School Plans

To change after-school travel plans, please call 360-412-4781 no later than 3:30 PM to ensure we have time to deliver the message.

How Attendance Works at Salish

First bell rings at 9:16 AM and attendance is taken at 9:20 AM in the classroom. If your student will be arriving later than 9:20 AM, they will need a note or phone call from the parent or guardian to excuse the tardy. Students must check in at the attendance window to obtain a pass to class.

NOTE: Students who arrive via a late bus must check in at the attendance window to obtain a pass to class, but it will not count as a tardy.

Make-up Homework: It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for all make-up work following an absence. The student may check for assignments through their Skyward account or contact their teachers by e-mail.

Excused Absences: Absences are excused ONLY in the case of illness, medical/dental appointments, bereavement, family emergencies, court appearances or pre-approved absences. The parent/guardian is required to notify the school attendance office the morning of the absence via phone/voicemail, e-mail, or note upon the student’s return to school. It is HIGHLY recommended obtaining a doctor’s note for all appointments and extended illnesses.

Pre-arranged Absences: Absences of five or more consecutive days require approval from the principal at least 5 days in advance. Extended Absence Approval Forms can be obtained from the attendance window.

Unexcused Absences: A missed bus, missed ride, sleeping in, and babysitting are not a valid excuse for an absence or tardy. Parents and other caregivers must accept responsibility for helping their students attend school.

Excessive Absences: In accordance with the state’s attendance laws and District attendance policies, if a student is absent without legitimate excuse for one half of the student’s educational program day on 7 or more days in a calendar month and/or 10 in a year, the School District may file a petition with the juvenile court seeking the court’s jurisdiction over the student’s attendance in school. Please refer to the Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook for further information.

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?

Salish Middle School

Committed to Excellence

To Report an Absence

Change After-School Plans

How Attendance Works at Salish

Absence Reporting Through Family Access

NTPS Attendance Information

What is good attendance?

Why is good attendance important?

What happens if a student misses too much school?

What can the district do?

What can families do?

Need more information about attendance?

Address

Phone

Fax