MAREN ERICKSON
Registrar / Attendance Secretary
Bonneville Junior HighAttendance Office
What to do when my student is absent?
When your student is absent from school, please send a note with your student upon returning to school, call the school at 385-646-5125, or email Mrs. Erickson @ mwerickson@graniteschools.org. The note should list your student’s first and last name, date(s) of absence, reason for the absence, and parent signature. Absent notes are turned in at the Attendance Office. Parents can excuse up to seven (7) absence days within a school year. Missed periods are accrued into days of absence. Excuse note must be submitted within two weeks of the absence for the absence to be excused.
Parent Excuse Note
What to do when my student arrives late or must leave school early?
All students must check in at the Attendance Office if they arrive after the bell rings at 7:45 a.m. and out prior to leaving school before the end of the school day.
Students arriving late can be excused when accompanied by a parent or with a written note signed by the parent to excuse the tardiness.
Students leaving the school for a portion of the day or for the rest of the day, must be checked out in the Attendance Office by a parent/legal guardian. Identification is required. Students will not be excused from class before parent/legal guardian’s identification is verified. The student will then be released to the parent/legal guardian or other authorized person as listed on the emergency contact card.
A street pass may be issued for a student to leave school early or for an appointment. For a street pass, the student will need a note from the parent listing the following: first and last name of the student, student number, date, time of check out, reason for checkout, parent signature and phone number in case of questions. The student will bring this note to the Attendance Office prior to school and it will be exchanged for a street pass note. The student will show this note to the teacher of the period when he/she will be leaving. The student can leave at the time listed on the note. Street pass notes will not be issued over the phone.
How can I review my student’s attendance?
Attendance can be reviewed on the parent portal at https://www.graniteschools.org.
What if our family has a vacation scheduled?
If your student is going on a family vacation for up to 10 school days, please get a Vacation Form from the Attendance Office. This form requires the parent’s signature and the signature of each of your student’s teachers. Students are responsible for their schoolwork during the absence. The completed form must be turned into the Attendance Office prior to the absence. If your student will be absent longer than 10 days, it is best to discuss your options with Mrs. Erickson in Attendance.
TRUANCY POLICY/SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Because of their commitment to providing a quality education, schools are concerned when a student misses school for any reason. The mission of Granite School District is to prepare every student with the knowledge and skills needed for lifelong success in a changing world. Students who are excessively absent from school are not able to accomplish their educational goals. According to the Utah Compulsory Attendance Laws (Utah Code §53-6-201 et seq.), parents/guardians and students are responsible for regular school attendance. Occasionally, a student must be absent from school for acceptable reasons such as illness, medical appointments, family emergencies, preapproved vacation leave, etc. Please call or send a note explaining the reason for your student’s absence to your school’s attendance office / secretary to excuse the absence.
In accordance with state law (Utah Code § § 53-G-6-202 and 203), school administrators, school resource officers, and truancy specialists may issue an Attendance Inquiry to parents/guardians of a student who is absent at least five times during the school year. An Attendance Inquiry directs parents/guardians to contact school support personnel to discuss attendance issues.
District attendance procedures are as follows:
- A parent/guardian may excuse up to seven (7) days of absences within a school year. Note: The school may deny excusal notes that are received more than five (5) days following the return from the absence.
- After seven (7) parent/guardian excused days and five (5) unexcused days within a school year, the school will mail the student/parent/guardian the first Attendance Inquiry letter asking for the parent/guardian’s help with their student’s attendance.
- After seven (7) parent/guardian excused days and ten (10) unexcused days of being absent within a school year, the school will mail the student/parent/guardian a second Attendance Inquiry letter inviting the family to attend a Student Family support meeting to implement a Student Attendance Plan.
- For secondary schools, missed periods will accrue into days of absences.
Please check with the school attendance specialist/secretary concerning excused or unexcused absences of your student. Your cooperation is needed in offering your student a quality education. If you have questions regarding these procedures, please contact the Department of Prevention and Student Placement, 385-646-4660.
