Good attendance is critical for a student to fully participate in and benefit from the academic program. This applies to tardiness as well. Remember, you are your child’s first teacher and role model, and it is up to you to ensure your student is on time and ready to learn each and every day. This is also an important life skill that it is never too early to impart.
The Attendance for Success Act outlines guidance for school attendance. Those guidelines can be viewed here. The SFPS Board Policy for attendance is here. Our overall attendance rate factors into the new school rating system starting this year by the PED.
As per Board Policy, “Excused absences are absences from school or a class that are short and long term mental or physical illnesses, observance of religious holidays, bereavement, suspensions, court summons, school sponsored/school sanctioned activities, hazardous weather conditions, pre-approved parent requested absences (as outlined in the Administrative Regulations) and activities approved or sponsored by the school, the Board, the NMPED, accepted by the Superintendent or the school principal, or their designees as a reason for excusing the student.
Students who are on transfers to WG sign a contract that they will adhere to our attendance policy. As stated in the contract, failure to adhere to the policy and go over 10 days absent for the year could result in a revocation of the transfer.
Please plan vacations or fun days for your student during planned school breaks (Fall and Spring Breaks, Holidays). As per the Board policy, “Parent Requested Absences for Educational Travel: Opportunities may be designated as an excused absence if approved by the principal and the assigned schoolwork is completed within two weeks of return to school or another agreed upon timeline.” Therefore, if you have an upcoming educational travel experience that you would like to be excused, you must send Principal Lindeen (klindeen@sfps.k12.nm.us) an email with detailed information stating the purpose of the trip, the dates, and what kinds of educational experiences will be undertaken. The request and approval must occur PRIOR to travel for it to be excused.
Excused vs. Unexcused Absence Determinations
EXCUSED ABSENCES
Bereavement
Short-Term Illnesses (fewer than 3 consecutive days)
Long-Term Illnesses (more than 3 consecutive days; must have a doctor’s note at 3 or more)
Hazardous weather conditions
Late bus arrivals
School sponsored/sanctioned activities
Other emergencies or set of circumstances
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
Woke up late
Doesn’t want to come to school
Vacation or Travel
At 10 or more absences, Administration will meet with the family to make an attendance improvement plan. As absences increase, our SFPS Social Engagement Officer will be involved and possible outside agencies contacted.
Absences are sometimes unavoidable. Please either call the front office 467-4800 to notify our secretary of the reason your student is not at school. If you get the voicemail, please leave a message as we check our voicemail regularly throughout our day. You can also email our secretary, Shannon Cordova, at shcordova@sfps.k12.nm.us.
Our school system has an attendance monitoring program called Attention to Attendance, or A2A. Our school’s attendance support team looks at student attendance data from A2A every week; letters of concern regarding attendance are generated by the A2A program. You will receive a printed letter at 4, 7, 12 and 18 absences. On the letter, it says to contact us. You do not need to contact us or justify the absences/excuses in the letter. The letters state a total amount of absences, both excused and unexcused. We have those marked accurately in our powerschool program. The letters are to inform you of the total of absences. Ms. Lindeen or the Attendance Team will contact you if we need to discuss attendance. You can find more information about student attendance outlined on the district website, www.sfps.info .
