1. Absences - Please call the school office (562) 944-6128 the day your child is absent. Let the office know your child’s name, the classroom, and the reason for the absence. Send a note when he / she return to school. Each child needs their own note. Add the child’s first and last name, room number or teacher, date of absence (include the year), reason for the absence, and the name of the person verifying. The reason we ask for the phone call, is to let us know they are safe with you that day. We ask for the note for our audit reports. Send any e-mail verifications to cmcdonnell@nlmusd.k12.ca.us with “Attendance Note” in the subject line. You do not have to send a separate note when your child returns. If your child has a medical appointment, please obtain a note from the doctor / dentist for the school office. The doctor / dental office may also fax the note. (562) 944-8188. If your child has excessive absences, a letter will be sent home and District SART will be notified.
2.  Unverified Absences - All unverified absences will become a Truancy after 10 days. They cannot be changed after the 10th day. Please verify all absences with the school office (even if you let the teacher know).
3. Vacations - If your child is going on vacation while school is in session, please let the school office and the child’s teacher know the dates he / she will be gone, in advance. NOTE: Your child’s attendance record will be marked as a Parent Violation. If your child will be gone for two weeks or more, he / she will be checked out of the school and you will have to re-enroll your child when you return. Your child may not get the same teacher, and in some cases, may not get back into the same school.
4.  Tardies - If your child arrives at school after the start bell, he / she is tardy. Arrival at 8:16am is a tardy. Students need to be with their teachers by 8:15. If your child is late, please have him / her sign in at the school office before going to the classroom. If your child arrives at school 30 minutes or more after the start of school, the office will need a doctor / dental note or phone call from the parent stating that the child was ill, to excuse the tardy. If your child has excessive tardies, a letter will be sent home, and District SART will be notified.
5. Taking Your Child Out Of School Early During School Hours - Your child must be signed out in the school office by parent / guardian, or person listed on the student’s emergency form 18 years of age or older. If your child has a medical appointment, please send a doctor / dental note to the school office when he / she return to excuse that partial day absence. This partial day absence is recorded in the absence column of your child’s report card. If your child has excessive partial day absences, a letter will be sent home, and District SART will be notified.
6.  ADA Funding – The school district DOES NOT receive funding from the State for students who are absent from school FOR ANY REASON. In order for our district to receive money, your child must be on campus for either the whole day, or a portion of the day. If your child has an appointment, please try to bring him / her to school either before the appointment, or after the appointment so we may receive our funding.

In order for us to achieve our academic goals, we ask for your supportinsuring that your child’s school experience is a positive one.