Attendance Policies

Every day is an important day at Erwin Middle School. Good school attendance is important to the student’s success at middle school and beyond. Chronic absence — missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absence for any reason—excused, unexcused absences, and suspensions—can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by the third-grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school. Colorado State Law requires students to attend school every day that it is in session with the following exceptions:

A student who is...

• temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance.
• absent for an extended period due to physical, mental, or emotional disability pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of a public school.
• participating in any school sponsored activity or a student who has advance approval by the Administration to attend an activity of an educational nature.
• on a doctor’s written advice, absent because their presence may constitute a danger to their health or will seriously expose other students to a health hazard.
• has a death in his or her immediate family.
• attending a scheduled health appointment with a doctor, dentist, or other medical advisor (please provide a note from the health professional for excusal).
• under quarantine.
• required in court.
• with advance approval, attends for a minimum of one hundred seventy-two days in an independent or parochial school which provides a basic academic education as defined in state law.
• in the custody of a court or law enforcement authorities.
• being instructed at home by a certified teacher or under a system of home study pursuant to state law and state board of education rules.
• absent with written approval of the building principal based on special family circumstances. 
• issued with current age and school certificate or work permit pursuant to state law.
• participating in an observance of their religion.

An unexcused absence is an absence that is not covered by one of the foregoing exceptions, including:

• Leaving school or a class without permission of the teacher or administrator in charge.
• Not reporting to school or a class unless the absence is excused in accordance with the school’s policy.

If a student is absent without an excuse authorized by the parent/guardian or if the student leaves school or class without permission of the teacher or administrator in charge, the student shall be considered truant. A “habitually truant” student shall be defined as a student of compulsory attendance age who has four unexcused absences from school or from any class in any one month or 10 unexcused absences during any school year. Absences due to suspension or expulsion shall not be counted in the total of unexcused absences. 

The school has established a system of monitoring individual excused and unexcused absences. When a student fails to report on a regularly scheduled school day and school employees have received no indication that the parent/guardian is aware of the absence, the student will be marked unexcused for the day. Additional communication regarding absences will be as follows:

• 4 absences (excused or unexcused): First attendance letter will be sent automatically from Thompson School District.
   
• 7 absences (excused or unexcused): A second attendance letter will be sent automatically from Thompson School District. A meeting with school personnel may be required. An attendance contract may be required.
   
• 10 absences (excused or unexcused): A third attendance letter will be sent automatically from Thompson School District. Absences will only be excused for medical reasons. This means students must be excused by our health office prior to missing school, or students must return with proper documentation from medical offices. A meeting with school personnel may be required. An attendance contract will be required. 
   
• A plan shall be developed for a student who is at risk of being declared habitually truant/absent with the goal of assisting the child to remain in school. When practicable, the child’s parent/guardian or legal custodian shall participate with district employees during the development of the plan. Appropriate school personnel shall make reasonable efforts to meet with the parent/guardian or legal custodian to review and evaluate the reasons for the child’s truancy/absenteeism.
   
• 20 absences (excused or unexcused): A fourth attendance letter will be sent automatically from Thompson School District. Intervention with the Positive Attendance Team from TSD may begin. This intervention will be documented in the student’s attendance plan. 
   
• 30 absences (excused or unexcused): A fifth attendance letter will be sent automatically from Thompson School District. Intervention with the Positive Attendance Team from TSD will continue. Intervention will be documented in the student’s attendance plan. Building administrators and the Positive Attendance Team will collaborate on a possible referral to truancy court. 

When leaving for an appointment, students must: 

1. Have a parent/guardian sign the student out when the student leaves. Anyone signing a student out from school before the end of the school day may be asked to present an ID before the student will be released. In an effort to maximize our students’ safety, if someone other than the parent/guardian is picking up a student, the front office will need verbal permission to release the student. 
2. Check in with the office upon return. Please return students to school after appointments to resume their school day when possible. Please provide a written excuse from your healthcare provider whenever possible. This allows our attendance clerk to “medically excuse” the appointment time. Most providers can print these for you as you check out.

If your student is going to be absent for 10 or more consecutive days for any reason, please stop by the attendance window to fill out an “intent to return” form. Documentation is needed for the absences to be excused.

Whenever a student is absent from school, a parent/guardian is asked to call 970-613-7690 before 9:00 am on the day of the absence. Notes are only required and accepted when it has been impossible to make a call to the school. Please see “How sick is too sick?” for detailed guidance on when to keep your child home.

Students /or parents can pick up the long-term absence form (3+ days of absence) at the attendance window. This provides the student an opportunity to receive some make-up work prior to the absence. Students will need to make up assignments (see makeup work section below).

It is the student’s responsibility to make up any work missed because of an absence (excused or unexcused) or tardy. Students and families can communicate with teachers directly and check their Google Classrooms for assignments. Students will be allowed one day to complete missing work for each day missed. In the event of an extended illness, arrangements to pick up schoolwork, as needed, can be made with the front office by calling 970-613-7600. Please allow 24 hours for requests.

Middle schools operate under a closed campus policy. Once students arrive on school grounds, even before the bell rings at the start of school, whether walking or in a vehicle, they will not be permitted to leave the school grounds at any time during the school day without parent/guardian and administrative permission. 

Students have four-minute passing periods between classes. They are encouraged to use their lockers, the restroom, and the drinking fountains at this time. After ten minutes, a tardy is considered truancy.

• 1st Tardy - Warning/Reminder
• 2nd Tardy - Consequence from teacher
• 3rd Tardy - Consequence from teacher and parent phone call
• 4th+ Tardy - Referral to the office administrator

Students who have 10 or more tardies between school dances, or who receive referrals resulting in suspension (out-of-school or in-school) may not be allowed to attend the dance. 

• To help keep our school safe and maximize learning time, students should have a teacher’s pass when leaving the classroom.
• Each teacher can distribute one hall pass at a time. 
• To start and end class smoothly, students should stay in class during the first and last 10 minutes, unless called by the office or counseling.
• Passes will show where students are allowed to go—please stick to the grade-level areas or the location written on the pass.
• To protect learning time in every classroom, students should only enter their scheduled classes.