Please call the Attendance Line for a Permit to Leave.
Please scan or click on the QR code to report all other absences or lateness.
If your student has an appointment and you need to check them out of class early, please call the Attendance Line for a Permit to Leave. A one-hour notice is appreciated so we have enough time to get your student.
When calling, state student’s name and grade (spell last name), your name and relationship to the student, reason, and time they need to check out.
Attendance Secretary: Molly Mills
mills.molly@westada.org
Reminder for Our Students
When a student shows up to school after school has begun, they will need to stop by the Attendance Office to check in for a pass to class. Students also need to check in with the Attendance Office if they are returning from an appointment.
If a student has been at an appointment and brings back an official note (doctor, dentist, court) that verifies their appointment(s), the absence will be waived. Official notes can be handed in at the Attendance Office, faxed to 208-350-4369, or emailed to mills.molly@westada.org
If a student was present in class but was marked absent by mistake, it can be fixed! You need to pick up an Attendance Change Form from the Attendance Office. If the teacher signs the form verifying that the student was present and the student returns the signed form to the Attendance Office, their attendance will be corrected.
Attendance Policy
Here is the link to West Ada School District’s Attendance Policy: View Board Policy 0500.1 Secondary Attendance
ABSENCES: Students are allowed three (3) absences per class period during the semester. Students who receive four (4) or more absences per class may lose credit in that class.
The following absences count towards a student’s total of three (3) absences: Parent Call (PRC), Illness (ILL), Truancy (TR), Unverified (A), and Out of School Suspension (OSS).
TARDIES: A student will be marked tardy (T) if they are up to ten (10) minutes late to class. Ten (10) minutes of detention time per tardy must be served to excuse the tardy. A second way to excuse a tardy is that students may check in at the Security Office the first ten (10) minutes of lunch on the same day of the tardy if the tardy was received in 1st or 2nd period or the next day the first ten (10) minutes of lunch if the tardy was received in 3rd or 4th period to get their tardy excused.
TARDY LATE: When a student arrives to class after ten (10) minutes, they will be marked tardy late (TL). Twenty (20) minutes of detention time must be served to excuse a tardy late (TL). If a student arrives thirty (30) minutes or more from the start of class, they will be marked absent for the entire class.
Early Check Out: If a student has a Permit to Leave and leaves class early with thirty (30) minutes or less of class remaining, they will receive an Early Check Out (CKO). Ten (10) minutes of detention must be served to clear a CKO.
All the above can only be excused with an official note (Doctor, Dentist, Orthodontist, Counseling, Court Appointment), a student’s bus arrives late or when other extenuating circumstances occur per administrative approval.
DETENTIONS SERVED: When a student completes detention or turns in an official note, the tardy, tardy late, or early check out will be changed to an Excused Late Arrival (XLA) and will no longer count against them.
Permit to Leave
If it is necessary for a student to leave campus while class is in session, they must obtain a Permit to Leave from the Attendance Office.
To obtain one, please call the Attendance Line at 208-350-4341. If a student leaves class/campus without a Permit to Leave, they will receive a truancy.
Please call with at least one hour's notice to ensure that your student gets out of class at the time requested.
A parent or guardian listed as a household or emergency contact in PowerSchool must call the Attendance Office before the student leaves. Handwritten notes will not be accepted.
Permits to Leave will not be issued if you call after 2:15pm.
Permits to Leave will not be delivered during school assemblies or testing windows, so please plan if your student needs to leave during the day of those occurrences.
The benefit of calling the attendance line and leaving a message for a Permit to Leave is that your student has permission to leave the classroom at the time requested and walk out of the school. You will not have to enter the school to get your student.
Participation in Extracurricular Activities
Students must attend school the entire day to take part in extracurricular activities after school or in the evening of that same day.
Exceptions include court appearances, bereavement, or medical/dental appointments.
A medical note or court document will need to be provided prior to the activity to waive the absence and allow participation.
If a student is tardy late to any classes (more than 10 minutes late) or checks out early from class on the day of an activity or sport, they will not be permitted to participate.
Independent Study Forms
In the instance that an extended trip occurs, or your student participates in club sports outside of school, the student must submit a completed Independent Study form.
Forms can be obtained from the attendance office.
Forms must be completed and turned into the attendance office at least 48 hours (2 days) before the first day of the absence period.
For the absences to be excused all teacher and administrator signatures for the day(s) the absence occurs are required, all student and parent requirements listed on the form completed, and a parent verification of the student’s absence completed online. Once all the requirements have been met and your student has completed all missed classwork upon return, your student’s attendance will change from a Parent Call (PRC) to an Alternate Learning Absence (ALT). ALT absences do not count against you.
Better grades. The better your attendance, the higher your grades.
Less Stress. When you miss school, you have a lot of assignments to make up. That is stressful!
You learn more. Learning a little every day in class is much better than having to learn everything you missed on your own.
More likely to graduate. Students who have poor attendance are less likely to graduate.
Time with friends. When you are at school, you can spend time with friends and make new ones.
Good habits. You will develop good habits for success - like showing up every day and being on time.
Mentors. School is full of people who can offer advice and guidance, like teachers and counselors. If you are not at school, you will not get the chance to develop those relationships.
Preparation for your future. The knowledge you gain and the skills you develop in school will help you be successful throughout your life.
Personal development. The more you are in school, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more intelligent, capable, and interesting you become.
Pride. When you are succeeding in your classes, you can feel proud of yourself.
