How to Report an Absence
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If your student is absent for any reason, please contact our office as soon as possible! Email amsoffice@nthurston.k12.wa.us.
360-412-4730
If a student is planning to be gone more than 5 days for excused reasons, obtain a form from the office to have their teachers fill out that includes their missed homework for the time period.
Report an absence through Family Access
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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!
Attendance Policy at Aspire
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One of the most important factors in students being successful at school is attendance. It is hard for students to be successful academically if they are not consistently in their classes to learn. In order to make sure that students are attending school regularly, the State of Washington and OSPI require frequent communication with families regarding their student’s attendance. Below is a brief explanation of how we will be communicating with families around attendance.
- Students that have an attendance related-issue (absence or tardy) will receive an automated call in the afternoon that day.
- Students with 2 unexcused absences will be contacted by AMS Office staff to discuss your student’s attendance. Parents will have an opportunity to excuse absences at this time if they wish.
- Students with 2 unexcused absences will have a brief check-in with counselors to discuss what is impacting their attendance.
- Students with 5 unexcused absences will be contacted by AMS Office staff to schedule a meeting with Administration to discuss your student’s attendance and make a plan for any supports that might be needed to improve their attendance.
- Students may be referred to the NTPS Community Truancy Board if a student’s attendance does not improve and they need additional interventions beyond the plan developed at the school level.
- Letters will be sent home to families when unexcused absences reach 2, 5, 9, 12, and 20 days.
- Students with 12 unexcused absences will be called by AMS Office staff to schedule a meeting with Administration to review the plan developed at the 5 day meeting and determine if any additional supports are needed.
We want to ensure that all students at AMS have the supports needed to be successful and attend school regularly. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s attendance please contact the main office at 360-412-4730.
NTPS Attendance Information
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What is good attendance?
Going to school on time, every day, is important! Consistent attendance will help children do well in school, college, and work. Good attendance is missing not more than 1 day of school a month, whether excused or unexcused.
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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.
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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.
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What can the district do?
We know that there are lots of challenges to getting to school on time. NTPS promises to track attendance daily, notice when your student is missing from class, and reach out to you or your students to help overcome any challenges that arise, including health and transportation issues.
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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
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Need more information about attendance?