Attendance

A student is absent from in-person instruction when the student is...

• Not physically present on school grounds; and
• Not participating in instruction, or an instruction-related activity at an approved location, or any other school district approved activity (such as participation in district-sponsored sports). 

Absence, in this sense, means being absent from campus for any portion of the school day, including lunch. A student will also be considered absent if they are on campus, but not in their assigned location for an extended period of time. A parent or guardian must call, write a note, or come into the attendance office to excuse a student’s absence or tardy. Absences must be excused before the absence occurs or within 48 hours after the absence by one of the following means:

• A phone call to the Attendance Office: 253-983-2303.
  When leaving a voicemail, please include the following information:
  Student name
  Parent or guardian name
  A phone number where parent or guardian can be reached, and
  The reason for the absence/specified type of appointment.
   
• A note brought to the attendance office by the student including the following information:
  Student name
  Parent or guardian name
  A phone number where parent or guardian can be reached, and
  The reason for absence/specified type of appointment.

SHSD Approved Reasons for Excused Absence

1. Illness, health condition, or medical appointment (to include mental health needs); 
2. Family emergency; 
3. Religious or cultural observance; 
4. Court or judicial preceding; 
5. Post-secondary visitation or scholarship interview; 
6. State-recognized search and rescue activities;
7. Absence related to McKinney-Vento status; 
8. Absence related to deployment status of an active-duty guardian;
9. Absence due to suspension, expulsions, or emergency expulsions; 
10. Absence due to safety concerns, including threats, assaults, or bullying;
11. Absence due to a student's migrant status;
12. An approved activity consistent with district policy and mutually agreed upon by the principal or designee and a guardian; 
13. Absence related to illness or appointments due to Covid-19; 
14. Absence related to illness or appointments of a family member due to Covid-19;
15. Absence related to a student's employment obligations made temporarily necessary by Covid-19;  
16. Absence due to the student's guardian's work schedule or other obligations during regular school hours, until other arrangements can be made; 
17. Absence due to the student's lack of necessary instructional tools, including internet access or connectivity; and,
18. Other Covid-19 related circumstances as determined between the school and guardian. 

If an absence is excused, the student will be permitted to make up all missed assignments outside of class under reasonable conditions and time limits established by the appropriate teacher. When reasonable, if a student misses a participation-type class, they can request an alternative assignment that aligns with the learning goals of the activity missed. An excused absence will be verified by the student's guardian. Students thirteen and older have the right to keep information about drug, alcohol, or mental health treatment confidential. For more information about absences in SHSD, please visit this link. 

A student with an excused absence from school for more than two periods on the day of an event or contest will not be allowed to participate in that day’s event or contest. Exceptions will be made for appointments that last longer than two periods, if a note from the office of the appointment is provided. Running Start students with partial Steilacoom High School schedules need to be present for all their scheduled high school classes, as long as that day’s high school schedule permits. Unexcused absences will result in the student being withheld from the activity. Appeals may be made to a school administrator for special circumstances. Tardies will have a separate school-based consequence.

Any absence over two days (not including illness) must have prior approval through a planned absence form. Signatures from parents and teachers are required. Forms are found in the attendance office and must be submitted to the attendance office prior to the absence.