Nathan Hale Attendance Policy

You are expected to be in school and actively involved in each class daily. Punctual attendance is the first requirement for success–both here and in the “real” world. The depth of coverage of material in class requires active student engagement, so when you are absent you are not actively engaged in the learning and it’s hard to replicate that when you return. A large part of your learning takes place during class discussions and participation. Many of our teachers use project based learning methods and if you are absent, not only do you miss out on the learning, but also any group you are working in is affected. Attendance and class participation are a basis for grading in classes. Check the syllabus for each class to see how this affects your grade.

On time, on task behaviors are expected for All students.

Clearing Absences & Early Dismissals

If you are home sick, have a parent/guardian send a note or email to excuse absences, early dismissals, etc. to halehs.attendance@seattleschools.org. The attendance office will then clear that absence. Students must clear an absence through the attendance office within 48 hours of their return to school with a note/email.

Leaving Early

Students leaving early should exchange their signed parental note for a Temporary Dismissal pass as soon as possible. Parents needing to retrieve their students for an appointment need to call the Attendance office at 206-252-3684 or email halehs.attendance@seattleschools.org as soon as possible. Since the Attendance office secretary is usually away from her desk from 1-2 pm, retrieving students at the end of the day is not always successful and can be chaotic. Calling early in the morning or as soon as you know the student needs to leave yields the best and most accurate service.

Late Arrival

If you arrive late to school and have no excuse note, you must sign in at the Attendance office. If you do have a note, bring it to the Attendance office and you will be issued a pass to class.

Important: Notes from parents/guardians must have a valid parent/guardian phone number if the student is less than 18 years old.

Frequently Asked Questions

Parent/guardians must notify Nathan Hale in written or verbal form within two days of any absence. If you make this notification in a written notice only you must include the reason why your child is absent, the date of the absence and a valid parent/guardian phone number for students younger than 18 years old. Parents can notify Nathan Hale of student absences over the phone as long as the reason is legitimate.

Unplanned absences are excused when the student’s person illness or injury, or the illness, injury or death of a family member, prevents the student from attending school. You must notify the school within 48 hours of the absence. The school may require a note from your doctor if the student is absent due to illness or injury for five consecutive days.

Planned absences are when the parent submits a Pre-Planned Absence Form (also found in the the Attendance office) to the Attendance office at least three days before the start of the planned absence and the Principal or Assistant Principal approves the absence. Planned absences include a family trip, extended medical stay, religious holiday or a special one-day event. The school may require your student to complete missed assignments and/or make up other academic assignments for an extended planned absence. Short term absences due to discipline of your child are also excused.

All other absences are considered unexcused. A student who misses individual classes will be marked as having one or more “unexcused absences”.

Any absence, whether planned or unplanned, will remain unexcused when the parent does not provide an excuse within (two days) for unplanned absences and (three days) in advance for planned absences.

However, a parent’s request to “excuse my child’s absence” without a stated reason will result in the absence remaining unexcused. The Principal may, at their discretion, require that notices regarding absences be made exclusively in writing. The Principal will make the final determination in cases where the classification of the absence as excused or unexcused is disputed.

Unexcused Absences

Sleeping late
Car breaking down
Heavy traffic
Student having to translate
Volunteering during school hours

This is not an exhaustive list

If you have any questions about your child’s attendance record please contact:

Martha Cunningham-Daniels
Attendance Secretary
206-252-3684
macunningh1@seattleschools.org