Attendance Procedures at MHHS

Hello MHHS students and families,

In an attempt to better support our students with attendance, the MHHS Administration would like to update all students and parents about the state and new school policies for absences and tardies.

All absences and tardies need to be cleared by a parent or guardian within 48 hours of the absence.  Parents/Guardians may not clear an absence or tardy after 48 hours have passed or it will become unexcused.  Please note that after a student acquires 5 days of excused absences, a doctor's note will be required to excuse any additional absences.

To clear a tardy or absence, you can send a detailed email to mhhsattendance@lammersvilleusd.net, use the attendance form found here or call (209) 836-7460.

In determining whether or not a tardy or absence is excused, MHHS follows CA Education Code guidelines for excused vs. unexcused absences.  We must follow these guidelines when coding absences or tardies in our system.

Excused Absence (found in CA Education Code 48205)

1. Illness
2. Family Funeral
3. Quarantine
4. Optometric, medical, or dental appointments (*Please make every effort to schedule appointments outside of the school day)
5. Court appearance by subpoena (child)
6. Participation in religious exercises

*Find the full list of 10 excusable reasons for absence from school in CA Ed Code here.

Examples of an Unexcused Absence

The following list details reasons that cannot be excused:

1. Family Vacations and extended weekend trip
2. Oversleeping
3. Parent fault for being late or absent
4. Car trouble
5. Any absence which would normally be considered excused, but is not cleared by a parent/guardian or doctor's note within 48 hours of returning to school

*This list is not all-inclusive. If you have specific questions regarding unexcused absences, please contact the attendance office.

School Consequences for Unexcused Absences

Progressive discipline will come into effect for students who have 1 or more unexcused absence. Teachers will notify administration of unexcused absences.  The first offense will result in detention, the second offense will result in reflection room, and the third offense will result in Saturday School. Administration will contact parents in regard to assigned consequences. Students that continue to have unexcused absences will be referred to go through the SARB process.

In adherence to Administrative Regulation 5113.1(b) and Education Code 48260, a student will be identified as truant when the student accrues three full days or 18 single period unexcused absences from school.  At this point, a student enters the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) process:

Saturday school will be held on a regular basis. Failure to attend Saturday School will result in in-house suspension.

Students with more than 4 days of Saturday School will lose off-campus privileges including flex and lunch, extra-curricular privileges and their work permit.
Saturday School days are cumulative and will carry over from one school year to the next.
Students may reduce Saturday School days by attending Saturday School or by having 10 days of Perfect Attendance while serving 1 day of Saturday School which will result in 3 days of Saturday School served.  Students may not have tardies or absences to qualify for Perfect Attendance.  If you have obtained Perfect Attendance it is the student's responsibility to visit the attendance office to reduce days.

 *Students will be notified if they have earned Saturday School and parents will be contacted by email.

* Your child’s attendance can be accessed through the Aeries Parent Portal which can be found on the front page of the school website or by clicking here. If you are having trouble accessing your account please call the school’s main number.

It is our intent to help students become more successful through consistent attendance in classes.

Thank you,
MHHS Administration