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Attendance

REPORT ALL PARTIAL OR FULL DAY ABSENCES

CALL 402-408-8649 OR EMAIL WMS.ATTENDANCE@WESTSIDE66.NET

If your student will be late or absent for any part of the day, please contact the office as soon as possible. It is not uncommon that a parent/guardian will need to leave a voicemail due to the high volume of calls to the main office. 

Absences will be coded "Unexcused" if the school does not receive communication about a student’s absence. Three consecutive unexcused absences may prompt a home visit from school staff. 

We strongly encourage appointment notes for professional visits (doctor, dentist, orthodontist, mental health professional, physical therapy, optometrist, etc). Submit all notes to the main office. An appointment letter will be necessary to code an absence as sick or excused after a student has reached 10 absences. If you need to fax an appointment note, our fax number is 402-390-6454.

 

WHEN SICK IS TOO SICK?

In the foreground, a colorful infographic titled %22When is sick too sick for school?%22 provides guidance on when to send children to school, keep them home, or seek medical care, while in the background, two cartoon children are depicted, one sneezing and the other holding a tissue.

 

THE IMPACT OF ATTENDANCE ON A STUDENT'S EDUCATION

  • Students who attend school regularly are more likely to be at or above grade level academically.
  • Students are more likely to be socially and emotionally connected to the school community with regular attendance.
  • Regular school attendance, especially in the early grades, is strongly linked to grade-level/proficiency reading in third grade.
  • Good attendance prepares students to excel beyond high school, in college, in a career, and in life.
  • Late arrivals to school and early check-outs add up to class periods and eventually whole days being missed. 
  • Every absence – excused or unexcused – is missed instructional time.
  • Late arrivals and absences affect the entire school, resulting in extra time and attention from the main office staff, the admin team, and teachers. It can also disrupt other students' learning opportunities.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE SCHOOL:

Schools are required to notify parents/guardians when a student reaches a certain number of absences. Westside Middle School will send an attendance letter home when a student has reached 5, 10, 15, and 20 absences. Westside Middle School recognizes that a student may have unique factors that affect attendance (such as a health condition) and an individualized attendance plan may be needed. Westside Middle School does not have a virtual learning program. 

 

A green hexagon with a black outline contains the text %22LESS THAN 5 ABSENCES%22 in white, with the number 5 prominently displayed in the center.

Fantastic! Keep up the great attendance!

 

A large white number %225%22 with a black outline sits above the word %22ABSENCES%22 in white, all centered within a yellow hexagon with a thick black border.

Communication from the student's Homeroom Teacher that the student has 5 absences, and written communication will be sent home soon.

 

A white hexagon with the number 10 and the word ABSENCES in white text with orange outlines is centered on an orange hexagonal background with a black border.

If the documentation provided does not provide a sufficient reason for a student's absences, the Counselor/Social Worker may meet with the student to implement an Attendance Success Plan. An email, text, or voicemail will be sent to the parent/guardian when this occurs. Written communication will be sent home outlining the number of absences accumulated. Appointment notes will be required after 10 absences. Any absences after 10 will be coded as unexcused unless accompanied by an appointment note.

 

A white number 15 with the word %22ABSENCES%22 below it is displayed on an orange hexagonal background with a black border.

The Attendance Success Plan will be reviewed to assess for any modifications. The Dean will contact the parent/guardian to arrange a parent attendance meeting to assess and problem-solve possible barriers affecting consistent attendance.

 

A red hexagonal sign with a black border displays the number %2220%22 in large white font above the word %22ABSENCES%22 in smaller white font.

If the Attendance Success Plan, Parent Attendance Meeting, Interventions, etc., have not positively impacted a student's attendance and the student continues to demonstrate chronic absenteeism, the school is required to submit a Non-Attendance County Attorney form to the Douglas County Attorney.

 

WHAT IS SCHOOL AVOIDANCE AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

School avoidance (or school refusal) in middle school is a child-motivated, persistent refusal to attend school or difficulty staying in class for a full day, usually driven by significant emotional distress, anxiety, or depression rather than truancy. It is important to understand that school avoidance behavior does not mean that a parent/guardian is not trying to help their student have good attendance. School avoidance behavior is a difficult issue to deal with alone. It can also be hard to identify school avoidance, as it can look like stomach aches, headaches, or other illnesses during the school year, but not during school breaks or the summer. Ask your student’s counselor for help with this issue. The school nurse can also be a helpful team player in developing a plan to help the student stay in school. Students are best supported by a team approach from parents/guardians and school staff.

 

 WE ARE HERE TO HELP WITH ATTENDANCE CONCERNS:

Let’s work together to make school attendance a priority! Daily attendance is not only required by Nebraska law for students ages 6–17, but it is also essential for their growth. We are here to partner with you to resolve any barriers your student may face with consistent attendance. Our counselors, social workers, and administrators are always available to help your family with any attendance needs. 

 

RESOURCES:

Attendance Works - provides information about chronic absenteeism, parent resources, research, and attendance awareness campaign resources. 

Professional Partners Region 6 - provides support to students and their families if there is a diagnosed or suspected mental health concern. This is a voluntary and free program. 

School Social Work Newsletter - Westside Community Schools has a team of School Social Workers who can assist with resource referrals and support to our students and their families. Their newsletter lists numerous community resources.

 

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE FLYER LINKS:

Current School Year Calendar

When is Sick too Sick?

Attendance Works Middle School

Absences Add Up - English, Arabic, Amharic, Dari, Burmese, Chinese, Dinka, Ewe, Farsi, Filipino, French, Persian, Portuguese, Nepali, Russian, Swahili, Somali, Spanish, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Tahi, Tajik 

School Avoidance - English, Arabic, Amharic, Dari, Burmese, Chinese, Dinka, Ewe, Farsi, Filipino, French, Persian, Portuguese, Nepali, Russian, Swahili, Somali, Spanish, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Tahi, Tajik 

Late to School

Disclaimer: AI was used to generate and translate the attendance flyers. Many languages lack equivalents for certain specialized, newly introduced terms, phrases, or concepts. Therefore, the flyers listed above in languages other than English may not be a direct translation.