Lake Hills Elementary School

Attendance

ATTENDANCE FACTS
Did you know that…..
- Every weekday thousands of parents are faced with the dilemma: Is their child sick, or is that stomachache an excuse for staying home from school?
- Most complaints of “not feeling well” are not serious enough to justify an absence from school.
- The “night before rule” serves as a guideline for parents: If the student was not sick the night before, and shows no outward signs of illness, send him/her to school.
- When a student has chronic complaints that disappear on weekends, holidays or after school, usually nothing physical is to blame.
- Hand washing is the single way to prevent the spread of cold germs.
- A temperature of 99 degrees is not a fever, and a child may go to school.
- A mild headache or a lingering cough, can be treated with acetaminophen, and a child can go to school.
- A stomachache does not justify a school absence unless accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting or fever.
- Head lice is a nuisance and requires exclusion from school and treatment. With treatment a child can return within two days.
- An ear infection is not contagious and a student may be in school once antibiotic treatment has been started.
- Runny noses last a long time in small children, but are not enough of a problem to remain out of school.
- A residual cough from a cold does not require a student to remain home.
- Chicken Pox last 7-10 days and students may return as soon as all of the lesions are crusted and dry. A vaccine is available to prevent Chicken Pox.
- Students with “Pink Eye” should be excluded from school until treated by a doctor and eye drainage has subsided. (Approximately 48 hours).
- Students with conditions such as “Pink Eye”, Impetigo and Ringworm are infectious. Students can return to school when treatment is started or when lesions can be covered.
- Anxiety and stress may cause physical pain. Reassure the child and send him/her to school anyway.
- A student who stays home with minor or non-existent symptoms should find home boring and not fun. Impose rules that include no television, no videos, no friends over, and no running around.
- Parents should teach their students to cope with minor illness or face anxieties rather than avoid school.
- Parents are the best resources to help students stay well.

MEDICATIONS
Any pupil who is required to take, during the regular school day, medication prescribed for him/her by a physician, may be assisted by the school nurse or other designated personnel if the school district receives (1) a written statement from such physician detailing the method, amount, and time schedules by which such medication is to be taken and (2) a written statement from the parent/guardian of the pupil indicating the desire that the school district assist the pupil in the matter set forth in the physician’s statement. (Education Code 49423)
- Students may not have in their possession any kind of medication (prescribed or over the counter).
- All medications must come to the nurse’s office.
- The staff may not administer any over the counter medications/ointments etc..
- The student may not medicate him/herself (not even a cough drop is acceptable)
- An “Authorization for Medication Administration at School” form must be on file before any medication is dispensed to the student. These forms require a Dr.’s signature and may be attained in the school office.

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

TARDIES:

• Lake Hills Elementary has two morning bells. The first bell rings at 7:40 a.m. (this bell is a warning to students to line up for class). The second bell, at 7:45 a.m., signifies the start of the school day and instruction begins.
• Our gates shut and lock promptly at 7:45 a.m.
• Students, who arrive to class after the second bell, will be sent back to the office for a late pass.
• Students arriving late must stop at the office upon arrival and attain a late pass before going to class (this will eliminate any further disruption to instructional time).
• If a student is late due to the bus…the tardy will be erased. However, the student MUST communicate to the office that they were late because of the bus. Unfortunately, it is impossible for the office to know all the students that regularly ride the bus. If the student does not communicate that they were on a late bus, the tardy will stand. Please make sure your student understands this policy.

ABSENCES:
Parents are required to notify the school of all absences. We have an established Attendance phone line strictly for reporting absences. Please call 358-1620 anytime your child is absent. This has proven to be a more efficient way of keeping accurate records. Please do not assume that the teacher will notify the attendance clerk of the absence. You must notify the office yourself. If calling in an absence, please use the phone number above and not the school office phone number. Parents may send a written note upon the student’s return to school. The note/message needs to state the reason for absence or it will remain uncleared. A note is not necessary if the absence was called into the attendance phone line. PLEASE NOTE: Any absence left uncleared for more than 72 hours, automatically becomes a Truancy after that 72 hour period.

The following State policy has been implemented and is as follows:
Unexcused absences:
- Going to work with a parent or other family member
- Going to the beach, lake, river or mountains
- Going to a concert
- Getting ready for visitors
- Babysitting or taking care of other family members
- Personal problems
- Repairing the car
- Waiting for service or repair people to come
- Shopping
- Camping
- Studying
- A Sick sibling
- Going to a sporting event
- Other reasons not listed but included can be found in the California Education Code, Section 46010 and 48205.

Justifiable Absences:
- Court appearance
- Religious Holiday, ceremony or retreat
- Personal reasons requested by parent or guardian submitted in writing to the Principal 2 weeks prior to absence. Principal approval is required.
- Funeral service other than excused

Excused Absences:
- Illness or injury (Student Only)
- Medical, dental appointment (Student Only)
- Funeral service of immediate family member (mother, father, sibling, grandparent) 1 day – California, 3 days – Out of State
- Exclusion for lack of immunizations (5 days max)
- Quarantine