rom time to time a student will find it necessary to be absent from school. The following procedures should be followed:

• If your student is absent from school, please call the Attendance Line (398-0349) the first day of absence and each day thereafter. The Attendance Line is available 24 hours a day.
  
  
• IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL THE SCHOOL ON THE DAY OF ABSENCE, THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN MUST PREPARE A NOTE. The note must explain the reason for the absence and must be signed by a parent or guardian. The day the student returns to school, he/she will present the absence note at the Student Window before 8:05 a.m.
  
  
• A student whose absence has not been reported by phone or verified by a note will be considered a truant until this obligation has been fulfilled. ALL QUESTIONABLE PHONE CALLS OR NOTES WILL BE VERIFIED.
  
  
• TARDIES: If you are late to school you must report directly to the Student Window.
  
  
• Excused tardies include:
  
  
• Illness
  
  
• Medical, dental or optometric appointments
  
  
• Court appearances
  
  
• Funeral of a member of the immediate family
  
  

All other tardies will be considered unexcused. All unexcused tardies to school or to class, including those that occur during first period, will be assigned DETENTION. Each student has the responsibility for being in class on time. Each parent has the responsibility to make sure their student arrives to school on time. Tardiness is an undesirable behavior and each parent is responsible for his/her student's tardy problems. Continued tardiness may result in a referral to the counselor, assistant principal, or SARB (School Attendance Review Board).

• All students entering school after 8:10 a.m. (Excused or Unexcused), leaving during the school day or returning during the school day MUST SIGN IN AND OUT AT THE STUDENT WINDOW and receive proper verification.
  
  
• EDUCATION CODE: According to the provisions of the State Education Code a student may be absent from school for the following reasons only:

• Illness
• Having medical, dental, or optometric services rendered.
• Quarantine directed by a county or city health officer.

• Absences for "personal reasons" are costly to the student's achievement and to the educational program and are unexcused.
  
  
• UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: If a parent does not clear an absence (either by a telephone call or note) within five (5) days, the absence will be considered a truancy and disciplinary action will be taken.
  
  
• TRUANCY: A student is considered truant from school unless he/she has a valid excuse (see above). Truancy can always be expected to result in some disciplinary action by the school. Such actions may include detention after school, Saturday School, contact with the SARB Board, the Probation Department, or the Claremont Police Department. The City of Claremont has recently adopted policy that will allow police officers to pick up and ticket school truants, resulting in fines and possible court intervention in student truancy.