Reporting an absence
The following are ways you can report an absence:
Email: nancy.puga@sweetwaterschools.org
Call the attendance office: (619) 498-2703
Send the student with a note when the student returns to school.
Send the student with a doctor’s note when the student returns to school.
Make sure to include the following when reporting an absence:
Student’s name
Student’s grade
Reason for absence
Date of absence
Name of the parent/guardian reporting the absence
Parent/Guardian has 30 days to clear the absence (AE) per SUHSD Policy Regulation Code AR 5113 (D). A student is truant when he/she has 3 or more unexcused absences. Truant students undergo the pre-SARB and SARB processes. Students with excessive absences – whether excused or unexcused – may be assigned to Saturday Academy.
Truancy is defined as an unexcused absence from school all day, an unexcused absence from one or more classes, or being 30 minutes or more late to a class. Any student arriving more than 30 minutes late must be signed in by a parent. At the teacher’s discretion students may or may not be able to make up class work. Truancy will require parent notification. The consequence of truancy may include, but not limited to detention, Saturday Academy, suspension, etc. Scholarship and citizenship grades will be negatively affected.
Tardies
Please make sure to send student with a note or email to excuse a tardy.
Make sure to include the following when reporting a tardy:
Student’s name
Student’s grade
Reason for tardy
Date of tardy
Name of the parent/guardian reporting the tardy.
Please be aware that only a parent/guardian can report a tardy.
Hilltop Middle School reinforces the value of being punctual. The first bell of the day rings at 8:05am. Students need to be in Period 1 before 8:10am. Students must be on time to all periods, and in his/her seat when the second bell rings. The consequence of tardiness may include, but not limited to detention, Saturday school, suspension, etc. Tardies disqualify students from the perfect attendance award. Citizenship grades will be negatively affected.
Period 1 Tardies. Parents, with heavy morning traffic, it is imperative that your child arrives well before the 8:05am bell. By 8:10am, they must be in Period 1. Regardless of who caused the tardiness, your child will be subject to any of the consequences above.
Off campus
Hilltop Middle School encourages parents/guardians to schedule appointments outside of the school day. If you need to do so, however, please allow enough time to complete the following:
• The Main Office will not accept off-campus requests by phone or by note. Hilltop Middle School is required to verify identity and authorization of any person requesting to remove a student from school.
• When you arrive to pick-up your student, fill-out an off-campus slip and provide picture ID.
Please note that student will only be released to an individual with picture ID who is listed as a parent, legal guardian, emergency contact, and is over the age of 18. Students will not be released to anyone under the age of 18.
• To minimize the student’s loss of instructional time, a student will not be called from class until the parent/guardian is present in the office. As noted above, this process may take at least 10 to 15 minutes. Please plan accordingly.
• Please Note: If arriving after 2:50 PM for an off-campus, please understand that we may not be able to have your students at the Main Office by 3:07 PM.
Short-term Independent Study Contract
A short-term independent study is deemed necessary when a student will be absent at least 5 days up to 15 days. The parent/legal guardian must contact the attendance office at least one week in advance of the first day of absence. The parent and student must both sign the independent study contract prior to the absence. The Attendance Office will send an email to all teachers to please provide the student with online work. The student must do the work and present all the completed work returning to school. Work not completed will negatively affect scholarship grade. If you need more than the max 15 days, please contact an Assistant Principal.
Saturday School
The school opens on most Saturdays from 8:00-12:00 for Saturday Academy. The primary purpose of Saturday Academy is for absence recovery, academic intervention, and restorative practices. Classroom teachers work on Saturdays on a volunteer-basis. Students are encouraged to come to Saturday Academy and are expected to follow the same school policies as well as Saturday Academy procedures (signing-in/-out, break, etc.).
