Attendance Office:

Staff: Stephanie Allen

Office Hours:  7:30 am - 4:00 pm

Phone Number: (818) 248-2617

Email: salllen@gusd.net

Reporting an absence

Attendance is critical for student success at Monte Vista School.  Students should be at school every day on time.  If a student must miss school please call as early as possible on the day of the absence to inform us by calling (818) 248-2617.  If it is outside of regular hours, please email sallen@gusd.net and your child’s teacher the reason for the absence.  Absences must be cleared within three school days.  Only a parent or legal guardian can excuse an absence.  When you call please speak slowly and clearly and provide the following information:

• Student legal name and School ID number (six digits)
• Your name and relationship to the student
• Date(s) of the absence
• Reason for the absence (please be specific)

Students may also bring a signed note from a parent/guardian verifying an absence. The note must include the information listed above and a full signature of the parent or guardian.

Students leaving school during the school day

Please schedule appointments after school hours when possible. If a student must leave school during the day, the parent/guardian must call the attendance office before the student is to be dismissed. The student must then pick up a “Permit to Leave School During School Hours” form from the main office. Please call as early in the day as possible to allow enough time for the student to pick up the “Permit to Leave School During School Hours” form. Please remind your student to pick up the pass at the Attendance Office prior to leaving. Students who leave school without checking out through the office are considered truant for the time they miss class. 

Excused Absences vs Unexcused absences

Absences are either excused or unexcused.  Students absent with an excused absence have the opportunity to make up missed work and earn credit.  Students with an unexcused absence or truancy should also make up missed work, but they may not be able to earn credit for work missed while absent, at the teacher’s discretion.  Per Board Policy 6154, Students who are absent from school shall be given the opportunity to complete all assignments and tests that can be reasonably provided. As determined by the teacher, the assignments and tests shall be equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the assignments and tests missed during the absence.

Absences can only be excused for the following reasons (See GUSD Administrative Regulation 5113 for more details):

a. Personal illness, including absence for the benefit of the student's mental or behavioral health.

b. Quarantine 

c. Medical appointment  

d. Attendance at funeral services for a member of the student’s immediate family.

e. Jury duty 

f. The illness or medical appointment of a child to whom the student is the custodial parent.

g. Justifiable personal reasons with prior approval of principal such as 

1) Appearance in court 

2) Attendance at a funeral service 

3) Observation of a religious holiday or ceremony 

4) Attendance at religious retreats not to exceed four hours per semester 

5) Attendance at an employment conference 

6) Attendance at an education conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization  

h. Service as a member of a precinct board for an election 

i. To spend time with an immediate family member who is an active duty member of the uniformed services 

j. Attendance at the student’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.

k. Participation in a cultural ceremony or event 

l.  For a middle school or high school student, engagement in a civic or political event, provided that the student notifies the school ahead of the absence.  

m. Participation in religious exercises

n. Work in the entertainment or allied industry (for a student who holds a work permit)

o. Participation with a nonprofit performing arts organization in a performance for a public school audience. 

p. Other reasons may be authorized at the discretion of the principal or designee based on the student’s specific circumstances.