Attendance Office

  • At Glacier Peak High School, the safety and whereabouts of our students is our top priority. To help us keep track of your student during the school day, we would like to provide these helpful reminders and tips for reporting an absence, a late arrival or request for an early dismissal:  

    Excusing your child’s absence: There are four convenient ways to excuse an absence: 

    1. Call the attendance line 360-563-7505 
    2. Enter a request in Skyward/Family Access.
    3. Email gph-attendance@sno.wednet.edu 
    4. A written note signed by a parent/guardian or medical/dental provider

    Please provide your student's first and last name, the date of the absence and a reason for the absence.  An absence will be considered excused when we receive notification from a parent or legal guardian in the attendance office within 48 hours of the absence. 

    Late arrival or full day absence: If your student will be late to school or miss the entire day, please notify the attendance office in one of the four ways listed above.

    Early dismissal: If your student needs to leave campus early, please give us as much advance notice as possible. Our goal is to have your student ready to leave campus at the time you request. Any student leaving campus must have an early dismissal slip and must sign out with the attendance office or the absence will not be excused. 

    Tips:  

    • Please have your student stop by the attendance office before the start of the school day to pick-up their early dismissal slip. 
    • When an emergency arises or for appointments that have been scheduled last minute, please call the attendance office and we will notify your student with an early dismissal slip.  
    • If your student becomes ill while at school, they will be referred to the school nurse who will assess your student and determine whether, or not, your student is well enough to remain in school.  

    Pre-arranged absences for three or more consecutive days: If you know in advance that your student will miss school for medical reasons, travel or otherwise, we kindly ask that you please have them complete a  Pre-planned absence form and submit it to the attendance office no later than one week prior to the absence. Early notification is required (and helpful) for teachers who will need to accommodate your student if he/she misses a test, presentation or lab, etc. 

Attendance

  • A child's daily, on-time attendance is important to his/her success in school. Did you know that as early as elementary school, students who miss just two days per month (which amounts to 18 or more days in a school year) are more likely to fall behind and less likely to graduate high school?

    How to report your child’s absence

    • An absence will be considered excused when a written note or phone call is received from a parent/guardian to the school attendance line/office within 48 hours of the absence. When reporting an absence, either in writing or by telephone, please leave the following information:
      • Student name and grade level
      • Dates and times of absence
      • Reason for absence
    • Parents/guardians may also notify the school of a child’s absence through Skyward/Family Access. Be sure you are using your parent/guardian login. Go to the Attendance tab of the portal and input your child’s absence information under the Absence Request section.

    School attendance is required by state law

    • State law requires children from age 8 to 17 to attend school.
    • Children that are 6- or 7-years-old who are enrolled in school, must also attend school.
    • Youth who are 16 or older may be excused from attending school if they meet certain requirements per state law (RCW 28A.225.010).
    • If your child is going to be absent, please contact the school office.

    School’s duties upon a student’s absences

    • If your child has three unexcused absences in one month, state law (RCW 28A.225.020) requires we schedule a conference with you and your child.
    • In elementary school after five excused absences in any month, or ten or more excused absences in the school year, the school district is required to contact you to schedule a conference. A conference is not required if your child has provided a doctor’s note, or pre-arranged the absence in writing, and plans are in place so your child does not fall behind academically.
    • If your child has seven unexcused absences in any month or 15 unexcused absences within the school year, we are required to file a petition with the juvenile court, alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010, the mandatory attendance laws. You and your child may need to appear in juvenile court.

    Did you know?

    • Attending school on-time, all day, every day will give your child the best chance of graduating from high school.
    • Starting in kindergarten, missing on average just two days a month, whether excused or unexcused, makes it more likely that your child will not meet academic standards in math and reading by third grade.
    • By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
    • Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
    • By 9th grade, regular attendance is a better predictor of high school graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

    What you can do

    • Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly sick, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or a contagious rash.
    • Avoid appointments and travel when school is in session.
    • Keep track of your child’s attendance. Missing more than nine days, excused or unexcused, could put your child at risk of falling behind.
    • Set a regular bedtime and morning routine as well as finishing homework and packing backpacks the night before.
    • Have a back-up plan in place with family members, neighbors, or other parents for getting your child to school in case something comes up.
    • If you are struggling to get your child to school for any reason, we are here to support you and work with you towards possible solutions. Please do not hesitate to contact the school office to schedule an appointment to discuss your child’s attendance.

    Student appointments
    Parents/guardians and students are encouraged to make medical and dental appointments for non-school hours. When an early dismissal must be made, a note should be presented at the attendance office before school. Elementary parents/guardians should come to the office to pick up their child.