Bell Schedule & Attendance

Regular high school attendance is essential to getting good grades and the mastery of essential learning objectives of all courses.  We recognize there are circumstances that may contribute to an excused absence, including: 

• Personal illness verified by a parent or guardian (the building administrator may request a doctor’s note in the case of extended illness).
• Emergency situations that cannot be pre-arranged or prevented
• Appointments that cannot be scheduled outside the school day
• Planned absences which have been approved in advance including recognized religious holidays
• Absence resulting from disciplinary action

If a student is ill, a parent/guardian should contact the attendance office at (509) 967-6554 to speak with a staff member or leave message to have their student excused. A student may also bring a note to school the next day signed by a parent.

Any absence not cleared within 48 hours will be considered truancy and will contribute to school-based consequences.

Attendance Process: 

1. Prior to school starting all families will receive a letter explaining our Attendance policies and processes. 
2. When a student accumulates three (3) absences (unexcused), parents will be contacted. 
3. If a student accumulates seven (7) absences (unexcused) a letter is sent to the parents requesting a response. The student will meet with either their assigned counselor or administrator and given the opportunity to create a plan for more consistent attendance. Parent will be contacted and the attendance plan will be shared. 
4. If a student accumulates twelve (12) absences (excused or unexcused), a letter is sent home to parents requesting notes from medical offices to excuse any future absences. The student will work with the counselor and parent to revise the first attendance plan to include more robust supports at school and possibly in the community. 
5. A BECCA Petition will be filed for Students who accumulate twelve (12) or more unexcused absences at any point in the school year. These students and their parents/guardians will also be notified of their appointment with our RHS Community Board. Students who attend their appointment and improve their attendance, may not have to attend BECCA Court

Tardy Policy: 

Students are expected to be on time to each class, every day. Students are tardy within the first ten (10) minutes of class. Students arriving after the first ten (10) minutes, may be marked absent. 

1. After the 3rd unexcused tardy, students will be assigned a one-hour detention and parents/guardians will be notified. 
2. Subsequent tardies will result in a parent/guardian meeting with an attendance secretary, counselor, and/or administrator to work on a plan to get to class on time. Independent Study (IS), and/or detention may also be assigned at this time