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We know that students who miss even a few days of school each month are at far greater risk of academic failure and dropout than students who attend school regularly.  Getting into the habit of daily attendance is more important than ever.  Regular attendance helps to:

• Reduce stress
• Make it easier to connect with friends and teachers
• Support learning

Mount Horeb High School is working to make our school environment a place where everyone can be safe, healthy and learning.  We will do our best to listen and partner with you so that our children have a successful year. 

We will monitor each student's attendance across the year so that we can work with families when the number of absences puts a student at risk.  We will be happy to work with you to help your child attend school regularly and have greater opportunities for success!  

Review your child's attendance, grades and other records through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

Excused absences may include, but are not restricted to: illness, family emergency, medical appointments, and family vacation. School Board Policy 431 and School Board Policy #431.1 further spells out the conditions of the school attendance policy.

Any absences that have not been excused by a parent/caregiver/guardian will be unexcused.  All unexcused absences will count toward truancy.

School attendance officers may also excuse a student's absences for all or part of a day for:

1. Illness/Mental Health:  The student is temporarily not in a proper physical or mental condition to attend a school program. The district will request the parent(s)/guardian(s) to obtain a written statement from a physician or a licensed practitioner as proof of the physical or mental condition of the student. Such an excuse will be made in writing, shall state the period of time for which it is valid and shall not exceed 30 days.  A school nurse or an individual working under the direction of the school nurse will be able to excuse absences for up to 24 hours should the student develop a fever (temperature of 100.4 or greater) or an episode of vomiting related to an illness was witnessed during school hours.

2. Appointments:  Medical, dental, chiropractic, vision or other valid professional appointments that cannot be arranged outside of the school day provided written proof is submitted to the attendance office (i.e. a screenshot of MyChart is acceptable).
3. Funerals/Family Emergency:  A death in the immediate family or funerals of close relatives.
4. Obtaining Religious Instruction:  To enable the student to obtain religious instructions outside the school during the required school period (see Policy 434-1 Release Time for Religious Instruction).
5. Court/Legal Matters:  A court appearance or other legal procedure which requires the attendance of the student or parent(s)/guardian(s).
6. Religious Holiday:  For observance of a religious holiday consistent with the student's sincerely held creed or belief.

7. Campus Visit:  Taking your student to a campus visit?  Please take this form with you and have a campus representative sign.  Students should return this signed form to the attendance office to update their attendance for the date/time the student was absent.

Absences will be unexcused unless a parent/caregiver/guardian contacts the Attendance Office within 24 hours of the absence.  Contacting the office the day of the absence by phone at 608.437.7200, option 1,  email mhhsattendance@mounthorebschools.org, or inputting on the parent portal app is required.  A student who is excused verbally or in writing by their parent(s)/guardian(s) will be excused from school.  A student may be excused by the parent(s)/guardian(s) under this provision for no more than 10 days in a school year.

• Is Your Child Missing School Due to Anxiety?
• School Refusal: When a Child Won't Go To School
• When Kids Refuse to Go to School
• 10 Tips to Get Your Student to School On Time
• Attendance Matters! - Information for Secondary Parents
• Campus Visit Form - Taking your student on a college campus visit? Please take this form with you to the visit & have a campus representative sign. Students should return this signed form into the Attendance Office to update attendance for the date/time affected.