A Community of Caring School

Sarasota Middle School employs specific procedures when students are absent from school. These procedures are designed to ensure accurate monitoring of student attendance.

· Please telephone the school at 361-6583 and leave a message indicating your child will be absent. This message system may be accessed 24/7.

· Tell us your name, a phone number where you may be reached, your student’s name, grade level, team or 1st period teacher and the reason for the absence.

· Only the parent/guardian may telephone the school to notify of a student’s absence.

· When a student is absent from school and the parent has not contacted the school regarding the absence, the school will attempt to reach the parent by the home, work, cell or emergency telephone number.

· For ALL absences, even when the parent/guardian has called the school, written documentation from the parent/guardian is required within three (3) days of the absence in order for the absence to be considered excused. Please include the date, your phone number, and sign the absence note.

· Ongoing absences due to illness require a doctor’s note to be excused.

· Absence notes are to be given to the student’s first period teacher on the day the student returns to school.

Excused absences include:

· Student illness documented by a parent/guardian/doctor
· Documented illness or death in the student’s immediate family
· Religious holidays
· Special situations approved by the administration.

Thank you for your cooperation in assisting us with these very important attendance procedures.