Attendance
The WAWM School District works cooperatively with parents to teach students the importance of daily and timely school/class attendance. School attendance, when supported and encouraged by parents, constitutes a vital part of the development of a positive attitude toward school. Conversely, when parents are not supportive of regular school attendance, the student begins to view school instruction as unimportant. This significantly increases the risk of an unsuccessful school experience and may lead to patterns of behaviors that can potentially impact graduation in later years.
Compulsory Attendance
Under Wisconsin Statute 118.15, any person having control of a child between the ages of 6 and 18 shall see to it that the child attends school regularly until the end of the school term of the school year in which the child becomes 18.
Parent Excused Absences
The School District does not encourage parent excused absences because of lost instructional time. It is the responsibility of the student to overcome the loss of instruction and parents should not expect the school to alter its instructional program for such an absence.
WAWM School District policy and Wisconsin State Statutes allow parents to request that a student be absent from school up to ten days in a school year. Excessive excused absences may require a medical note for future absences to be excused. A request for a planned absence (not to exceed ten days) should be made in writing to the school principal prior to the absence.
The following are excusable absences:
Compulsory Attendance
Under Wisconsin Statute 118.15, any person having control of a child between the ages of 6 and 18 shall see to it that the child attends school regularly until the end of the school term of the school year in which the child becomes 18.
Parent Excused Absences
The School District does not encourage parent excused absences because of lost instructional time. It is the responsibility of the student to overcome the loss of instruction and parents should not expect the school to alter its instructional program for such an absence.
WAWM School District policy and Wisconsin State Statutes allow parents to request that a student be absent from school up to ten days in a school year. Excessive excused absences may require a medical note for future absences to be excused. A request for a planned absence (not to exceed ten days) should be made in writing to the school principal prior to the absence.
The following are excusable absences:
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Personal illness (a doctor’s excuse may be requested after three days).
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Funerals (up to three days, otherwise reasonable cause must be demonstrated).
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Required legal appearances.
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Designated religious holiday.
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Doctor/dental/health care provider appointments (every effort should be made to schedule these appointments after school hours).
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Family emergencies.
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Driver’s examination.
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Approved school-district sponsored activities.
All other absences will be regarded as unexcused/truant. All student absences are subject to review by the building principal, whose decision will be final.
Tardies
Being on time is an important component of school attendance. At the elementary level; if students miss half of a morning or afternoon, it constitutes as a half-day (.5) absence. At the secondary level, attendance is recorded each period.
Tardies
Being on time is an important component of school attendance. At the elementary level; if students miss half of a morning or afternoon, it constitutes as a half-day (.5) absence. At the secondary level, attendance is recorded each period.
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Elementary School Day: Start Time: 8:30 a.m. Dismissal: 3:30 p.m.
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Intermediate School Day: Start Time: 7:45 a.m. Dismissal: 3:00 p.m.
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High School Day: Start Time: 7:47 a.m. Dismissal: 3:00 p.m.
Truancy
Truancy is an unexcused absence for all or part of a day (e.g., .5 at the elementary level and a period at the secondary level.)
Habitual Truants
A “Habitual Truant” is a student who is absent/unexcused from school without an acceptable excuse part or all of five or more days on which school is held during a school semester. This applies to all children under the age of 18.
Truancy is an unexcused absence for all or part of a day (e.g., .5 at the elementary level and a period at the secondary level.)
Habitual Truants
A “Habitual Truant” is a student who is absent/unexcused from school without an acceptable excuse part or all of five or more days on which school is held during a school semester. This applies to all children under the age of 18.
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Parents have the right to receive written notice of their child’s non-attendance from school.
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Parents and students have the right (and will be asked) to attend a meeting with school officials to discuss the child’s truancy.
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Schools will work with parents and students to create a plan (e.g., strategies, program or curriculum modifications) to improve regular school attendance.
School Communication Regarding Attendance
When a student is absent from school without reason, the school will send a telephone message to the known telephone number of the parent. All parents have access to student attendance records through Skyward Family access. Paper print-outs of attendance records can be requested by parents at the school office.
Penalties
According to 118.15 (5) of Wisconsin Statutes, a parent of a child may be held responsible for the child’s non-attendance, and if convicted, he/she may be fined not more than $500 or jailed for 30 days, or both, and/or revocation of vehicle registration. Ordinance 6.06 of the Revised Municipal Code of the City of West Allis makes it unlawful for any student to be truant from any school in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. If a parent knowingly allows their child to be truant from school, the parent can be issued a citation.
Student Illness
When a student is absent from school without reason, the school will send a telephone message to the known telephone number of the parent. All parents have access to student attendance records through Skyward Family access. Paper print-outs of attendance records can be requested by parents at the school office.
Penalties
According to 118.15 (5) of Wisconsin Statutes, a parent of a child may be held responsible for the child’s non-attendance, and if convicted, he/she may be fined not more than $500 or jailed for 30 days, or both, and/or revocation of vehicle registration. Ordinance 6.06 of the Revised Municipal Code of the City of West Allis makes it unlawful for any student to be truant from any school in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. If a parent knowingly allows their child to be truant from school, the parent can be issued a citation.
Student Illness
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Students should be fever-free before being sent back to school.
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Students who have had a contagious disease should have a note from their doctor allowing them to return to school.
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Students with a persistent cough that will interrupt the learning of process should not come to school until treated by their physician.
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In most cases, students who complain of minor ailments, but do not have a fever or other symptoms to support their complaints, should come to school.
Reporting Absences
Each school has a telephone number that parents may call to report a student absence at anytime. Parents are expected to report their child's absence by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. A student may not call in the absence for themselves or their brothers/sisters. Any absence not reported by a note or telephone call within 24 hours of a student’s return to school will be recorded as unexcused.
Parents that have a question about an absence or feel attendance has been marked in error, should contact the school office to discuss the reason for the absence on the attendance record.
If requested by school personnel, parents of students absent from school for any reason shall submit in written form, documentation for their child’s absences, the specific days or times they were absent, verification of health care provider/court appointments, and signature of the parent.
School Attendance Office Telephone Numbers
Each school has a telephone number that parents may call to report a student absence at anytime. Parents are expected to report their child's absence by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. A student may not call in the absence for themselves or their brothers/sisters. Any absence not reported by a note or telephone call within 24 hours of a student’s return to school will be recorded as unexcused.
Parents that have a question about an absence or feel attendance has been marked in error, should contact the school office to discuss the reason for the absence on the attendance record.
If requested by school personnel, parents of students absent from school for any reason shall submit in written form, documentation for their child’s absences, the specific days or times they were absent, verification of health care provider/court appointments, and signature of the parent.
School Attendance Office Telephone Numbers
High Schools and Programs
Central 604-3101
Nathan Hale 604-3212
Dottke 604-4212
Shared Journeys 604-4292
Community Based Transition Program 604-3780
Intermediate Schools
Frank Lloyd Wright 604-3401
West Milwaukee 604-3301
Elementary Schools
Franklin 604-3710
General Mitchell 604-4510
Hoover 604-3810
Horace Mann 604-3910
Irving 604-4010
Jefferson 604-4110
Pershing 604-4610
Walker 604-4710
Wilson 604-4810
Central 604-3101
Nathan Hale 604-3212
Dottke 604-4212
Shared Journeys 604-4292
Community Based Transition Program 604-3780
Intermediate Schools
Frank Lloyd Wright 604-3401
West Milwaukee 604-3301
Elementary Schools
Franklin 604-3710
General Mitchell 604-4510
Hoover 604-3810
Horace Mann 604-3910
Irving 604-4010
Jefferson 604-4110
Pershing 604-4610
Walker 604-4710
Wilson 604-4810