• The State Attendance Laws are explicit in the definition of valid excuses for absence from school.  Acceptable reasons are:  student illness, severe family illness, family death or funeral, medical emergencies, doctor appointments, or court appointments.  Whenever possible, doctor and dentist appointments should be made outside the school day and certainly not during the first or last days of school. A student will be excused for one-half day for a medical appointment.

     

    Absences for reasons other than the above will be reviewed by an administrator and a decision will be made whether to excuse the student’s absence.  The parent is charged with the duty of keeping the student’s attendance regular.  Anytime a pupil is absent, a parent should call the school office at (973-7500) as soon as possible, and report the reason for the absence.  When parents are unable to call, we expect the student to bring a written excuse (it may be written in the agenda) to the office when he/she returns.  Excessive absences from school for any reason will have a negative effect on student achievement.  By law, we are required to refer to the District Attorney’s office or DCF, any student who accumulates 3 consecutive days of unexcused absences, 5 days of unexcused absences in a semester, or 7 days of unexcused absences in a year.  It is the responsibility of the student to make-up assignments that are missing due to absences.  Whether an absence is excused or unexcused, it is the responsibility of the student to follow the guidelines set forth by his/her teachers as to how the work is to be made up.

     

    Absences and Picking up Students for Appointments

    Parents/guardians are responsible for contacting the school by phone or in writing. Please call 316-973-7500. You may leave a message on the voicemail outside of school hours.  It is the parent’s/student’s responsibility to request make-up work when a student is absent. Please allow teachers 24 hours to assemble make-up work.

    If your student has a doctor’s appointment and you need to pick them up early during the day, it helps if you call the front office on your way or before you leave to pick them up. We can have your child in the office waiting on you to make the transition and sign out process run smoothly.

    We request if you are going to pick up your child early for an appointment, please try to do so before 3:00 pm. After that time, classes are in transition, ending important instruction, and preparing for dismissal.

    Tardy Policy for all USD259 Middle School Students

    All Wichita middle school students are expected to arrive at school on time each day. Students who are not in class after the final bell has rung are considered tardy and expected to report to the Student Service Center to sign in and receive an admit slip. Students will be given excused admit slips for late arrival for the following reasons:  late buses, medical appointments, funeral or required appearances in court.  Documentation must be provided in order to receive an excused admit slip. Students who arrive late to school for any reasons not listed above will be given an unexcused admit slip and will be issued a school consequence/intervention. We do understand that things outside of our control do occasionally happen so, each student is allowed one “free” tardy per quarter before consequences/interventions will be given.

    Students have two minute passing periods between core classes, and three minutes between exploratory classes. Students are expected to be in the classroom when the bell rings. Those who are not will be marked tardy. Students missing more than half a class period will be marked absent.