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IT'S 10:00 . . . DO WE KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILD IS? |
We understand that sometimes an absence or late arrival happens.
However, we also believe that the attainment of academic excellence requires attendance on a regular basis.
That is the responsibility of each student and parent.
Any absence or late arrival due to illness, death in the family, religious observance, or other unusual circumstance,
will be excused provided a call is received from the parent to the school attendance office by
10:00 a.m. the day of the absence.
If the absence is not reported, it will be documented as unexcused and reported to
the Arizona Department of Education as a truancy.
REMEMBER TO CALL
602~449~6100
TO LET US KNOW THAT YOUR CHILD WILL BE ABSENT OR TARDY
SUNRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL
GENERAL ATTENDANCE POLICIES
2009-2010
The Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board believes that the attainment of academic excellence requires attendance on a regular basis. Attendance is the responsibility of the students and parents. Students may fail classes or promotion may be withheld if this requirement is not met.
Regular attendance is a vital key to a successful school program. Students should only be absent from school when absolutely necessary, as much of the classroom activity cannot be made up; the benefit of lectures, discussion, and participation is lost forever to those who are absent.
Any absence due to illness, death in the family, religious observance, or other unusual circumstances, will be excused provided a call is received from the parent by the school attendance office by 10:00 a.m. the day of the absence. A reasonable effort will be made to notify the parent by phone when a student is absent without notice. Notification of the absence must be reported to the office by 10:00 a.m. the day of the absence. If the absence is not reported, it will be documented as unexcused.
Any unexcused absence (without the prior knowledge and consent of parent/guardian and/or without notification to the office), including an unexcused absence from even one class period a day, is considered a truancy.
The CUTS (Court Unified Truancy Suppression) Program is a truancy diversion program. The purpose of this program is to provide a unified approach to dealing with the issues that cause truancy. The procedures for the CUTS program are as follows:
1st - 3rd Truancy 4th Truancy 5th Truancy |
With each truancy, a conference will be held with the student, and parent notification will be sent home. A conference will be held with the student, parent contact will be made, and a Friday detention will be assigned for the student. A conference will be held with the student, parent contact will be made, and a citation will be issued to the Juvenile Court Center. |
EXCESSIVE EXCUSED ABSENCES:
Twelve (12) or more excused absences in a semester without a doctor's verification documenting a medical condition may result in a citation to the Juvenile Court Center through the CUTS program.
Tardy Policy
1st Tardy 2nd Tardy 3rd Tardy 4th or More |
Verbal warning Letter notification to student Letter sent to parents Appropriate consequences assigned by administrators |
A student tardy to any class must report to the office for a pass.
If you have any questions regarding these general attendance policies, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Murray, Assistant Principal, at 602-449-6100.
Thank you for your support and efforts to encourage good attendance and punctuality habits.
C.U.T.S TRUANCY PROGRAM
School attendance is not only a good habit, state law requires it. Arizona State Law (15-802.A, 15-803.E) requires every person who has custody of a child between the ages of six and sixteen years shall make sure the child attends school for the full time school is in session unless unable to attend due to illness or another legitimate reason.
To encourage and improve school attendance, Sunrise Middle has implemented a truancy program in partnership with Maricopa County Juvenile Court. This truancy program is called C.U.T.S. (Court Unified Truancy Suppression). We will be tracking attendance very closely. Your child is expected to be at school every day, unless there is an excused reason not to be. An absence is defined as a minimum of one missed class period per day. An unexcused absence will count as a truant day as defined by law. A student is “habitually truant” if he/she has five or more unexcused absences from school. A student that is absent more than ten percent (18 days) of the required number of school days per year is considered to have “excessive absences” whether the absence is excused
or unexcused.
When a student has five or more unexcused absences or 18 excessive absences (excused OR unexcused), the student can be cited to the CUTS Program through the Juvenile Court. The hearing will be held on the school campus with representatives from Sunrise Middle School and the Juvenile Court. A parent or legal guardian must be present with the student at the time of the hearing. Consequences at the hearing may include the following: required attendance of the parent and the child at an education class (to be held on Saturdays), work hours assigned to the child, counseling, etc. The parent will be assessed a $50 Diversion fee. Failure to complete these consequences may result in suspension of your child’s driver’s license, or inability to get a driver’s license until their 18th birthday and/or formal court proceedings. It is the parent’s/ guardian’s responsibility to ensure their child’s attendance in an approved academic setting. If you fail to take the necessary steps to provide
your child with appropriate education you may receive a citation. If convicted, it is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by jail time and/or fine.
The education of your child is extremely important to us. This program is another way that Sunrise Middle School is working with the community to ensure a quality education for all students. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Sunrise Middle School 602-449-6100.
Thank you for your support regarding this program.
