Union Middle School Attendance Policy 2024-2025
Union Middle School believes the explanations, discussions and clarifications that take place in the classroom are invaluable components of a student’s learning experience. Research shows school attendance is directly related to student success.
Utah’s Compulsory Education Law states that all school age children must attend school (Utah Code 53-A-11-101).
Union understands students will be absent occasionally. Following are reasons students may be considered for an excused absence:
- Illness (verified by doctor note provided to Attendance Office)
- Medical appointments (provide doctor note to Attendance office from dentist/orthodontist/doctor
- Family wedding
- Family emergencies
- Death of a family member of close friend
- Family activity or travel consistent with district/school policy (Educational Leave)
- Court appearance
Union knows that student attendance is a responsibility shared between students, parents and the school. Following are each parties responsibility:
Students
- Attend school regularly.
- Arrive to all classes on time.
- Collect work missed during absence.
- Obtain a check-out slip when leaving school early through the attendance office.
Parents/Guardians
- Ensure that your student attends regularly and on time.
- Notify the attendance office when a student will be absent.
- Visit or call the attendance office to check your student out for the day.
Teachers
- Enter attendance/tardies every period.
- Develop positive relationships, engaging curriculum, routines and procedures
School Responsibilities
- Notify parents if attendance is irregular or if there are excessive unexcused absences.
- Develop procedures and guidelines that promote good attendance.
- Provide rewards for good attendance and consequences for poor attendance.
- Intervene when absences become excessive.
Procedures
Absences
When a student is absent from school for one or more periods, a parent or guardian needs to call the Union Attendance Office at 826-7516 on the day of the absence. Students should turn excuse notes into the Attendance Office before school on the day they return to school from an absence.
If a note or telephone call has not been received prior to the absence, every attempt will be made to notify a parent of the absence on the same day. The school utilizes an automated calling machine to notify parents of absences. In addition, all absences are recorded on the Skyward system for parents to review.
When a student has excessive absences, the school will review the attendance record. Parents will be notified by phone and/or letter. If attendance problems continue, a school attendance meeting or Truancy Mediation meeting may be held to create agreements and understandings to improve the student’s attendance.
Closed Campus Guidelines
All middle schools in Canyons School District operate under a “closed campus” policy. Students are to remain on campus throughout the school day unless they have been properly checked out of school according to the procedures outlined.
Check-In Policy
CHECK-IN – Students checking in prior to 7:50 will report directly to their first period class. Students arriving after 8:00 AM will need to check in with the Attendance Office, even if they arrive during a class break.
CHECK-OUT – If it becomes necessary for a student to leave school for any reason during the school day, they must sign out through the Attendance Office. A parent or designated person listed on Skyward MUST call the Attendance Office to sign the student out. Students will not, under any circumstances, be released to anyone other than those listed on the student’s emergency card.
Tardy Policies and Procedures
Students are on time if they are in the classroom with their learning materials when the bell rings. If students receive 5 tardies (per class/per quarter), they will receive a lunch detention.Teachers will be responsible to inform students and parent(s) at the 4th tardy. Teacher will submit an Office Discipline Referral for 5th tardy for lunch detention to be assigned.
For tardies above 5, students will meet with administration and additional interventions will be implemented. Additionally tardies will affect students’ citizenship grades.
To promote promptness, music will begin playing 90 seconds before the tardy bell rings. In addition, teachers are encouraged to be in the hallway and have an engaging beginning of class activity.
Truancy
A student shall be considered truant when absent from school for any portion of the school day (including lunch) without the consent of a parent or legal guardian or a school official. Disciplinary action will also be taken for such truancy.
Guidelines for Making up Work
Make-Up Work for Absence
A student will be given the opportunity to make up work missed. It is the responsibility of the student to request and complete any assignments or tests missed because of absence. The curriculum in all courses is important; therefore, students will not be excused from one class to make up work for another class.
Work assigned prior to absence: In general, when an assignment has been made prior to the date of excused absence, the student may be required to turn in make-up work on the day the student returns to class.
Absence for school-sponsored activities: Activity excusal lists are submitted at least two days prior to the absence; therefore, students should arrange to turn in work that will be missed prior to the activity.
Work assigned during the absence: It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for make-up work. The student should request the assignments upon his/her return to class. The teacher will determine the amount of time necessary to complete the make-up work, as well as provide the opportunity for the make-up work. (At a minimum, students will be permitted one day for make-up work for each day of absence.) Some assignments may require extensive instruction. Students may need to meet with the teacher outside of the class time to receive instruction for these assignments.
Requests for assignments: On any three or more consecutive days of excused absences, a parent may reference Canvas. The teacher will determine the amount of time necessary to complete the make-up work. (At a minimum, students will be permitted one day for make-up work for each day of absence.)
