Attendance

HOMEWORK

Procedure for obtaining homework assignments when absent: Homework assignments may be requested by parents if the absence is anticipated to be two days or more. To do this, your parent must call the office with the days and dates of the absences. Calls requesting homework should be made prior to 9:00 a.m. for pick up between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. that day in the office.

Homework assignments may also be obtained through this website. In the event of an absence of less than two days, students should utilize homework partners. Having the name and phone number of a reliable friend in each class is a valuable practice.

STUDENT DROP OFF AND PICK UP

We are always concerned about traffic and safety. Please drive slowly and carefully when dropping off and picking up your students. Parents should not pull into the parking lot. Do not double park or stop in a red zone. You will be cited by the Culver City Police Department for traffic violations.

Drop off spots for the middle school:

• Main entrance on Elenda Street

• Football Field/Snack Bar Entrance on Harter Street

• Bridge entrance on Ocean Avenue

During the rainy season, the city sometimes closes the bridge due to safety concerns.

ARRIVING AT AND LEAVING SCHOOL

When students arrive at school they are not to loiter outside the campus but go directly to the patio area. The first bell rings at 8:10 a.m., which allows you 5 minutes to get to your first class before the tardy bell rings at 8:15 a.m.

After the dismissal bell you are to leave school and go directly home, unless you have an after school class that is approved by the Culver City Middle School administration.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular attendance is essential for successful school work and is required by the California Education Code. Excessive absences will cause you to fall behind in school work and may result in low grades and possible failure. Excused absences include student illness, medical or dental appointments, death in the family, or quarantine by health officials. Students with unexcused absences/tardies will be reported to the School Attendance Review Team (SART) or the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) for further action.

Whenever a student is absent from school, the parent or legal guardian must call the attendance office as early as possible during the morning on the day that the student is absent.

If the student's last name falls between the letters A - K, email [email protected].

If the student's last name falls between the letters L-Z, email [email protected]

IF A CALL OR EMAIL IS NOT RECEIVED, A NOTE STATING THE REASON FOR THE ABSENCE MUST BE SENT WITH YOUR STUDENT UPON HIS/HER RETURN TO SCHOOL. Please note that if a tardy or absence is due to a medical/dental appointment a note from the doctor confirming this is required upon the student's return to school.

Students should report to the attendance office for a readmit slip before the first bell rings upon the day of their return. Students should then take the readmit slip to each class for teacher's signature and give the completed slip to their last period teacher.

All absences will be considered unexcused unless cleared through the Attendance Office. Absences not cleared within five (5) days of an absence, and any unexcused absence, will be marked as a truant.

When a student has accumulated fourteen (14) absences in the school year for illness, even if non-consecutive, any further absences for illness must be verified by a doctor's note. AR 5113 (c).

Perfect attendance is defined as a student not being absent or tardy (excused or unexcused) to school, or any class, during a three year period at Culver City Middle School.

TARDY TO CLASS

You are expected to be on time for class. Tardiness by students is a classroom interruption. Any student who is not seated in their assigned seat when the bell rings is considered tardy to class.

Please be advised that notes, phone calls or visits from parent/guardians to excuse tardies will not be accepted. Only a verified medical excuse (doctor's note) will be accepted. Medical notes for being late to school must be submitted to the Attendance Office at the time of arrival to campus. They may not be cleared afterward.

If you are tardy often, your parent/guardian will be notified of the problem. If you are late to class beyond ten minutes, then you may be considered truant and may be cited by the Culver City Police Department.

Please remember that you are responsible for arriving to school on time even if you rely on your parent or another adult for transportation to school. Habitual tardies will result in detention, Saturday School, and removal from field trips and other reward activities.

FULL DAY TRUANCY

Whenever you miss a day of school without parent/guardian permission you are considered a full day truant. A full day truancy will result in a disciplinary conference including your parent. If you continue to have truancies from school you will be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) with your parents where further action will be taken.

SINGLE PERIOD OR PARTIAL TRUANCY

If you miss class or part of a class without school or parent/guardian permission you are considered truant. If you are truant from class, your parent/guardian will be notified by the attendance office and you will be assigned a consequence. If you continue to be truant from a class you will be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) for further action.

PERMISSION TO LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY

If your parent/guardian determines it is necessary for you to leave school early, you must bring a note from your parent/guardian explaining the reason for leaving and the time you must leave. This note should be brought to the attendance office before the first bell rings. You will be issued a "Permit to Leave Campus" pass from the attendance office staff. At the designated time you will show this pass to your teacher and report to the office to meet your parent/guardian. Your parent/guardian must meet you in the attendance office and sign you out before leaving campus. If an adult other than your parent/guardian will be signing you out, prior authorization must be given in writing by your parent/guardian. PLEASE BRING A NOTE BEFORE SCHOOL TO AVOID UNNECESSARY CLASSROOM INTERRUPTION.

PLANNED ABSENCES

If it is necessary to miss five or more days of school due to family travel or business we will place you on a short-term Independent Study Contract. You must bring a note from your parent to the attendance office two weeks in advance to request assignments so that the teachers have sufficient time to get a packet ready. You are expected to pick up the work, to complete all assignments, and to turn in all work that was given to you within two days of returning to school. Failure to comply with the Independent Study Contract will result in an unexcused absence.