Attendance Policy

It is Patterson Schools policy to expect every child to attend school daily, arrive on time and be prepared for work.  California State Law and the Fremont Unified School District require all students to attend school.  If your child is ill, please call (510) 793-0420, ext. 7 and leave a message on the answering machine (see Absentee Calls, under the Office section).  A call or written note is required to clear an absence.  Our clerk checks daily to verify absences not left on our answering machine.  Please click to read more on how to Report an Absence.

Tardiness

Students are expected to be at school on time (see Office and School Hours, under the Office section).  Tardiness interferes with the teaching and leaning of all students by disrupting the classroom environment.

Excused Absences

Excused absences which do not result in the loss of state funding for the school are illness, quarantine, funerals immediate family, and medical appointments.

Unexcused Absences

Students who are out of town or caring for a sick relative, or absent for another reason not listed under Excused Absences, have unexcused absences.

Make-Up Work

Teachers must allow students to make up tests and assignments missed during excused absences and field trips.  Teachers are free to provide or not provide make-up work for unexcused absences, truancies and suspensions.  Please ask your students teacher about their policy and how to make arrangements for make-up work.

Improving Attendance

• Our plan for increasing student attendance includes:
• Careful monitoring of student absences;
• Administrative contact with home and student;
• School review boards as needed;
• Systematic notification of parents;
• Make up class work missed during a detention period.

Independent Study

Students who will be out of town or absent for six days or more are eligible to complete an independent study packet and receive excused absence status if an independent study contract is signed by the parent and principal and all work is completed as scheduled.  The request should come at least five days before the absence begins.  Teachers will be notified and make provisions for make-up work.

Dismissal During the School Day

Please avoid scheduling appointments for your children during school hours.  Parents must come to the school office to sign the log for students to leave during the school day for appointments.  Notes from home to the teacher are requested so that teachers can have homework assignments ready.  Students will not be called from class until the parent arrives so the student will miss the least amount of instruction.