WE LOVE SEEING YOU! 

Regular attendance plays a pivotal role in students' overall development and academic success. When students are continuously exposed to a learning environment, they develop a deeper understanding of subjects from their teachers and peers. Students who attend school every day have a better chance to engage with the curriculum, participate in discussions, and collaborate with peers, which enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS. 

Call us to learn more about our attendance programs. 

Every effort should be made to ensure students are at school ON TIME, EVERYDAY. Tardies and early release from school interrupt student learning. We appreciate your efforts in scheduling regular doctor and dentist’s appointments for after school hours. However, if necessary, please allow your child to attend school before or after the appointment (or both).

Absences: If a student must miss school, it is the responsibility of the parent to contact the school office for each day’s absence. Parents may also email Ms. Maira at mcortez@mcsd.k12.ca.us or Ms. Veronica at vmarquez@mcsd.k12.ca.us to report absences and email doctor’s notes. 

Tardies: Our last bell in the morning rings at 8:30 a.m. If your child is not in the classroom by the time the last bell rings, they are considered Tardy. 

Leaving school early: During school hours, parents must sign the student out and pick up their child(ren) at the school office. Students will only be released to a parent, guardian, or other adult listed on the contact page of the student’s Aeries profile. Please keep phone numbers and emergency contact current. If there are custody orders or changes, please provide the office with the most recent documents for enforcement. Also, please keep in mind that if your child is picked up more than 30 minutes before dismissal without being a valid medical reason, it will be considered an unexcused early out and will count towards their attendance.

Attendance Letters: Automated letters regarding "at risk" attendance is regularly sent out as a precaution and some will note a SART meeting with a site administrator. These letters are intended to inform you of the concern and seek resolution prior to SARB action, thus your attendance at the meeting is necessary.  Weekly attendance incentives are awarded to students for zero tardies/absences in that week. Quarterly attendance is incentivized by recognition with a certificate at the assembly. End of year "Perfect Attendance" Awards go to those students who have been continuously enrolled at Chenoweth since the beginning of the year with no absences or tardies/early releases of any kind all year. 

Note: Absences for extended periods (1-15 days) may qualify for short term Independent Study but are still absences. It must be requested at least 5 school days in advance and cannot be taken at the end of the school year (i.e. the last 10 days of school).

• Education Code, Section 48200. Students between the ages of 6 and 18 must attend school.
• Education Code, Section 48260. A student is habitually truant when he/she is absent from school without an excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than any 30 minute period during the school day three times.
• Education Code, Section 48263. Truant students may be referred to SARB.
• Education Code, Section 4821. Under the SARB directive, the district may file a criminal complaint against the parent or guardians of a student, when they have willfully failed to respond to SAR directives or services provided.
• Education Code, Section 48293(a). A parent or guardian may be held responsible if a student does not follow the SARB contract.
• Ed Code, Section 60901(c)(1). A chronic absentee is "a pupil who is absent on 10 percent or more of the school days in the school year when the total number of days a pupil is absent is divided by the total number of days the pupil is enrolled and school was actually taught in the regular day schools of the district, exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays."