For any absence, please call the WHS Attendance Office to report your child's name, when s/he will be absent, and the reason for the absence. In addition to full day absences, arriving after the start of the school day and signing out at any time during the school day are considered absences. Absences not verified within 48 hours are considered truancy per FZSD Policy JED-R. For students whose last names begin with the letters
A-L call 636.542.7516
M-Z call 636.542.7515
The Attendance Office is open from 6:30 am to 2:45 pm daily. Voicemail is available 24 hours a day.
Did You Know?
According to Attendance Works,
• students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
• absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor yearly attendance--half the students who miss 2-4 days in September will miss nearly a month of school by year's end.
• absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully, or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
• by sixth grade, absenteeism is one of three signs a student may drop out of school.
• by ninth grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than eighth grade tests scores.
• missing 10% of the school year (equivalent to about 18 days or 4 weeks of school) can drastically affect a student's academic success.
• students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.
• attendance is an important life skill that will help students graduate from college and/or keep a job.
What Can Parents/Families Do?
• Make school attendance a priority: talk about the importance of going to school, arriving on time, and staying for the entire day; avoid scheduling appointments during the school day; and don't allow your child stay home unless s/he is truly ill.
• Help your teen stay engaged: check grades often through the Parent Portal or the Tyler 360 app; communicate with teachers; encourage participation in after-school clubs, activities and/or sports; and talk to your child about his/her school days
• Communicate with us: regularly check your student's attendance; let us know when there are issues with school attendance; and ask for help from teachers, counselors or WHS' Crisis Counselor.