Attendance

SMS Attendance Hotline: (928) 527-5510

 

 

SMS Attendance Policies and Procedures

At Sinagua Middle School, we firmly believe that consistent attendance is essential to student success, well-being, and academic achievement. In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes regarding school attendance, we want to clearly communicate our attendance policies and procedures for the school year.

Our goal is for every student to attend school every day and arrive on time, ready to learn. Regular attendance is one of the strongest indicators of academic success, and we are committed to helping students overcome any barriers that may prevent them from attending school consistently. We invite families to partner with us in supporting student attendance and creating a positive educational experience.

According to Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 15-803 and Flagstaff Unified School District policies, students are required to attend school at least 90% of available instructional days. Excessive absences may impact academic progress, participation in school activities, and promotion eligibility.

Every Day Counts – Student Absences

Your child is an important part of our school community, and every school day provides valuable learning opportunities. Missing school can make it difficult for students to stay engaged and achieve their academic goals.

A parent or guardian must contact the school within 48 hours of a student's absence. To report an absence, please call the Attendance Line at (928) 527-5510.

Absences that are not verified within 48 hours cannot be excused due to state reporting requirements.

State law requires schools to record the reason for every absence. When reporting an absence, please provide the reason for the student's absence. Absences that are not verified by a parent, guardian, or school administration will remain unexcused.

 

Excusable Absences Include:

• Illness
• Medical or dental appointments
• Mental or behavioral health appointments
• Homelessness-related circumstances
• Bereavement
• Family emergencies
• Family vacations (up to three (3) days per school year)
• Out-of-school suspensions

In some cases, school administration may request documentation to verify an absence.

If your family is experiencing challenges that make regular attendance difficult, please contact the school. Sinagua Middle School and Flagstaff Unified School District are committed to working with families to identify supports and resources that help students attend school regularly.

Attendance Procedures and Expectations

1. Attendance is Important

Regular attendance supports academic achievement, positive relationships, and school engagement. Students who attend school consistently are more likely to be successful both academically and socially.

2. Basic Information and Expectations

• Students should only miss school when absolutely necessary.
• Students should avoid reaching the maximum absence threshold of 10 days per semester.
• Chronic absenteeism is defined by the State of Arizona as missing 10% or more of the school year. This equals approximately 9 days per semester.
• Family vacations are limited to three (3) excused days per school year. Additional vacation days will be recorded as unexcused absences.
• Families must report all absences when their child is absent from school.
• All absences count toward a student's total absence count, regardless of the reason.
• Early release days count as full attendance days for state reporting purposes.

 

3. Interventions and Supports

To support student attendance, Sinagua Middle School may provide:

• Daily attendance notifications through ParentSquare.
• Regular attendance monitoring and communication with families.
• Attendance plans designed to identify barriers and establish attendance goals.
• Meetings with students and families to develop attendance improvement strategies.

Chronic Health Conditions

If your child's absences are related to an ongoing medical condition, a Chronic Health Form may be required. This documentation helps ensure that medically necessary absences are appropriately considered.

Please contact the attendance office for additional information regarding the Chronic Health process.

4. Potential Consequences of Chronic Absenteeism

Chronically absent students may experience:

• Academic consequences, including failing grades due to missed instructional time.
• Required academic recovery plans.
• Referral to the County Attorney's Office in accordance with Arizona Compulsory Attendance Law (ARS 15-803).
• Loss of eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities, athletics, and certain field trips.
• For 8th-grade students, chronic absenteeism (10 or more absences in either semester) may result in the loss of participation privileges in promotion ceremonies and related activities.

 

Tardy Policy

Attendance and Tardies

School begins at 8:50 a.m.

Students should arrive on campus before 8:30 a.m. School doors open at 8:20 a.m., and students may wait in designated areas until the first bell rings.

Students are considered tardy if they arrive after 8:50 a.m.

Arizona Revised Statute 15-803(B) states that absences may be considered excessive when the number of absences exceeds 10% of the required attendance days.

Sinagua Middle School has 180 required attendance days each school year.

 

If your student will be absent or tardy, please call the Attendance Line at (928) 527-5510 and provide:

• Student's full name
• Reason for absence or tardiness
• Parent/guardian name
• Contact phone number

Thank you for partnering with Sinagua Middle School to support student success through regular attendance.