Dorothy McElhinney Middle School

Attendance Information

HOW TO REPORT ABSENCES – Call the attendance line at 951-304-1885 and press #1 for attendance or report using this form:

(24 hours – 7 days a week) or email jgoedken@murrieta.k12.ca.us 

Notification of Absence:

The school is required by the state to have an official explanation for all absences. Please call the school attendance office each and every day(s) if your child is absent. When leaving a message on the attendance line, leave your child’s first and last name, the date of the absence, the reason for the absence, your name, and a phone number where we can contact you. If your child is to be away from school for a long period of time, please call the school and notify them of the absence in advance. You will need to work directly with teachers via email to request homework.  A 24-hour notice is needed if homework is desired for your child during a long absence. If your child is absent due to a doctor’s appointment, please provide the doctor's note to the Attendance Office as soon as possible.

Attendance:

Absence from school breaks the continuity of learning. According to state law, your child's daily attendance is required each day when he/she is physically able. Parents or guardians are responsible for their child's attendance at school. The only valid reasons for an excused absence from school (Ed. Code, Sec. 46010) are:

• An illness or an injury to the child
• A quarantine of the home by county or city health officials
• A medical, dental, optometrist, or chiropractic appointment. (Provide Doctor's Note)
• Attendance at funeral services for a member of the immediate family
• Other absences are considered unexcused and not only cause a disruption to your child's instructional program but are costly to the district.
• A student shall be excused in order to participate with a not-for-profit performing arts organization for a maximum of up to 5 days per school year, provided the parent provides a written note to the school explaining the reason for the absence. (EC48225.5(2).

Unexcused absences are non-compliant and subject to truancy law after 3 incidents. The California Ed Code states that teachers do not have to give make-up work for unexcused absences.

Excessive Absences:

Ten (10) absences are considered to be excessive. For students who have 10 or more absences in a school year due to illness, a doctor's note will be required to excuse the absence with doctor documentation. Days not accounted for will result in a truancy day and may be subject to a SARB referral process under the unexcused absence policy. 

Students may not be on campus for after-hours events on the same school day as any uncleared or unexcused absence. 

Unexcused Absences:

Reasons NOT acceptable for being absent from school are but are not limited to going on a vacation, taking a personal day, babysitting a family member, missing the school bus, attending a sporting event, having personal problems, family emergency, or any other reason not included in “valid reasons for excused absence” (Ed. Code, Sec.  48205)

Tardies:

School begins at 9:00 am, and students are expected to be in their classrooms by this time each morning. The first bell rings at 8:45 am, and students must make their way to their classrooms at this time. Gates close at 8:55 am, and tardy slips will be issued to students arriving via the front office after this time. Per our school policy, if a student has 10 or more tardies in ANY period, they will serve a lunch detention. If the tardies do not improve, the student will continue to serve lunch detention for each additional 5 tardies. 

Late Arrival:

If your student arrives after the 8:55 am bell, he/she is required to report to the office before going to class. Any student who is tardy in excess of 30 minutes per day for 3 days in one school year is truant and may be reported to the attendance supervisor and /or the School Attendance Review Board.

Leaving School During School Hours:

Any parent/guardian planning to take their child out of school during school hours must come to the office, show the proper ID, and sign their child out of school. A parent/guardian requesting to take their child out should have their name on the emergency card. The clerk will call your child's room and have him/her sent to you in the office.

Please do not attempt to pick up your child within 30 minutes of the end of the school day. Also, do not call the office to request your student to wait in the front office.  We are unable to accommodate that request.