Union Middle

615 E. 8000 South, Sandy, Utah 84070
801-826-7500

Spanish Dual Language Immersion School
US News Utah’s Top Ranked MIddle School Badge
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Attendance Policy

Union Middle School Attendance Policy 

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 (may need to be verified by doctor note provided to Attendance Office)
  • Medical appointments (may need to 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 Middle School 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.
  • Check in at the Attendance Office if arriving late.
  • Obtain a check-out slip when leaving school early through the Attendance Office.

Parents/Guardians

  • Ensure that your student attends school regularly and on time.
  • Notify the Attendance Office when a student will be absent.(phone call or Parent Square)
  • Come in to the attendance office to check in or check out your student. 

Teachers

  • Enter attendance/tardies every period, every class, every day. 
  • Develop positive relationships, engaging curriculum, routines and procedures.
  • Contact parents with attendance concerns.

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.

Attendance Procedures

Absences

When a student is absent from school for one or more periods, a parent or guardian needs to call the Union Middle School Attendance Office at 801.826-7516 or message in Parent Square within FIVE days of the absence. The school utilizes Parent Square to notify parents of absences.  In addition, all absences are recorded on the Skyward system for parents to review. All absences are considered unexcused until the parent communicates with the Attendance Office. 

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, an Attendance Intervention meeting will 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 & Check-Out 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. Parents can send a note or call the attendance office for late arrivals and excusal. 

CHECK-OUT – If it becomes necessary for a student to leave school for any reason during the school day, students must check out through the Attendance Office. A parent or guardian MUST come into the Attendance Office with a photo ID to check the student out. Only parents or legal guardians may approve students to be checked out from school. Students may be released to others listed on Skyward only after the parent or guardian has given direct approval.  Any person checking out a student must show a photo ID in the Attendance Office.

Tardy Policies and Procedures

Students are on time if they are in the classroom when the bell rings. If students receive 5 tardies (per class/per quarter), they will receive a lunch detention. Additionally tardies will affect students’ citizenship grades.When a student has 5+ tardies in a class, the student will meet with administration and additional interventions will be implemented. 

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 assignments or assessments due to absence:

A student will be given the opportunity to make up for missed work. It is the responsibility of the student to request and complete any assignments or assessments missed because of the absence.  The curriculum in all courses is important; therefore, students will not be excused from one class to make up work for another class. Students will be allowed to make up any missed assignments or assessments unless verified truant.