Keep Your Child On Track in Middle and High School 

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.

Access important tips and information about why attendance is important and what parents can do to support it.

Redwood is a closed campus. After arriving in the morning, students are to remain at school all day unless they become ill or a parent requests that they be excused. Lunch passes are issued only if: 1) a parent requests the lunch pass in person, 2) a parent will be home during lunchtime, and 3) the home is close to school. Students are to sign back in before going to class. Visitors may not attend classes with Redwood students. Non Redwood students are not permitted on campus. Violators will be cited and their home school notified if they do not leave when requested.

Absences must be reported and cleared, otherwise they will be considered truancies. Any uncleared absences will be considered truant after 3 days. When truant, students may not be allowed to make up any missed class work, tests, or assignments.

1. A telephone call is the best way to report your student’s absence. Please call (805) 497-7264 and press 1 for the attendance line. Please call each morning of the day your child will be absent. Your student will NOT need to bring a note if you’ve notified us by phone.
2. A written absence note should be presented to the Attendance Office when returning (if no phone call was made). 

 Messages or Notes should include the following:

• Student’s full name
• Student’s grade
• Current date
• Date(s) of absence 
• Reason for absence
• Parent/Guardian name/signature and contact number.

For late arrivals, students should arrive to school with a note excusing their late arrival and signed by their parent/guardian. Students must check in at the front office to sign in and receive a pass, even if they arrive during passing period or lunch.

In all cases, be prepared to show photo I.D.
There may be times during the year when it is necessary for a parent/guardian to take their student from school for part of the day. 

If you know in advance of a scheduled appointment please send your student to school to expedite the sign-out process. The written note should include:

• Date
• Student’s name
• Time to be released from class
• Reason
• If applicable, permission for release to a specific, named emergency contact. Note: the contact must already be listed on the student’s Emergency Contact Form.
• Signature of parent or guardian and contact number. 

First, the student shows the release note to their teacher at the appropriate time. The student will be released from class and must bring the same note and report to the office. The student may be signed out in the office by the parent or guardian. Or, students with written notes may sign themselves out and meet their parent at the gate.

Parents who come to sign their student out of school without a note will need to come to the attendance office, show ID, and wait while their child is summoned from class. Please plan your appointment times accordingly. Summoning your child to the office can take 5-15 minutes. You may call ahead so that a summoning slip can be created prior to your arrival. However, it will not be sent until you arrive at the office to sign your child out. 

Any other person signing out a student must be listed on the student's emergency card. Written permission must be explicitly stated in a note for an emergency contact to sign out your child. For early releases, we cannot release students to emergency contacts without specific, written parental consent. This is a district policy.

Only the following reasons are considered excused absences:

• Personal illness or injury.
• Medical or dental services.
• Quarantine or Immunizations.
• Attendance at events sponsored by the school.
• Entertainment industry (work permit required.)
• Medical, dental, optometrical or chiropractic appointment
• Attendance at funeral services for member of the immediate family – 1 day in California, 3 days outside of state
• Courtroom appearance
• Religious instruction or retreat (up to 4 hours per semester)
• Advanced written request for planned student absence
  
  
  

PERSONAL BUSINESS = (unexcused) Examples of unexcused absences are: student overslept; traffic; had a flat tire; had to take care of personal or family business; family vacations; etc.

If you are planning on taking your student out of school for personal reasons, submit a completed Planned Student Absence Request Form to the attendance office at least one week prior to the date of absence. Taking a personal absence without prior written permission will be considered an unexcused absence.

Once you submit the request, if administration approves the dates, we will then call your student into the office and give your student the form for each teacher to fill out. *It will be the teacher’s decision to give work before the absence, or to wait until student returns to school.* If you have any questions, please call the attendance phone number, 805-497-7264, ext. 1004. Please note that administrators will review current attendance and grades as contributing factors for approval or denial.

Students have one day to make up the work for full credit for each day missed (see page 13 of the Student Agenda). Parents may request work from teachers if the student has missed three (3) or more days of school. All work will be held in the attendance office for pick up. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements for the completion of make-up work.
Specific questions regarding your child's attendance can be answered by Redwood’s Attendance Clerk, Mrs. Evans (805.498.3617 ext. 1004) or sevans@conejousd.org