Attendance Policy
Foothills attendance policy has been revised to be in line with state and district guidelines. It is our policy that you will need to call the school to notify us of the reason for a student’s absence. You should be aware that we track attendance by half days. So five full days of absence would look like 10 half-days on a letter sent home.
In order to distinguish between excused and unexcused absences the following attendance codes will be used on the Skyward tracking system:
Excused {E, V, G}
E = The student was absent and is considered excused because of illness, medical/dental appointment verified by parent call and a note from the doctor, death/funeral of family member, family wedding, court appearance, etc.
V = excused vacation days approved by completing an “Educational/Vacation Leave” form prior to the trip. Pick up forms from office.
G = The student was absent and is considered unexcused because the parent or guardian provided a call or note with an excuse not considered valid by the Truancy Court or Jordan School District. (going out to lunch, snowboarding, sleeping in, etc.)
Unexcused {A, I, O}
A = The student was absent and the school received no call or note from the parent/guardian.
I = The student checked in more than 10 minutes late.
O = Student was checked out early.
Tardiness {T}
T = The student came to class 10 minutes late.
Guidelines:
- Valid excuses [E] include illness, medical/dental appointments, family death, family weddings, court appearances, etc.
- Illness absences will be excused by a phone call or signed note from parents the day they return to school and by providing medical verification from doctor.
- The child is responsible for work missed resulting from any absence, excused or unexcused.
- Educational Leave form [V] must be completed prior to the trip and the work must be completed for it.
Action Taken to Improve Poor Attendance:
- The Compulsory Education letter is sent home in the first day packet.
- After 5 unexcused absences (10 half-days) a letter from the principal will be sent home reminding parents of the attendance policy.
- After 10 unexcused absences (20 half-days) a letter will be sent home and a meeting with the administration may be scheduled to discuss attendance issues and offer appropriate interventions (e.g. truancy school for 5th-6th, district intake, attendance contract, etc.)
- After 15 unexcused absences (30 half-days) a certified letter will be sent home informing the parent that a juvenile court referral may be made, as per state code 53a-11-101, and a meeting will be scheduled to discuss attendance issues and offer appropriate interventions (e.g. truancy school for 5th-6th, district intake, attendance contract, etc.)
- Letters from the office will also be sent home at every 10 total absences and tardies (beginning at 20) to inform and educate parents regarding school attendance policies. These letters include excused and unexcused absences.
The intent of our attendance policy is to encourage students to be in school as much as possible. With every absence, valuable instruction is missed that cannot be regained by simply completing the missed work. Thank you for your cooperation with this matter. Please notify our office staff if you have any further questions regarding our attendance policy or procedures.
Winter Weather and Environmental Policies
Cold
- Students will stay inside when the temperature is below 21 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Ensure that students are prepared to go outside every day with appropriate cold-weather clothing such as a hat, gloves, and boots.
- It is better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.
Safety
- In order to maintain student safety and prevent injury, the following activities are prohibited.
- Throwing snowballs
- Sliding on ice
- Sliding or rolling down hills
- Students who engage in these activities will be subject to school disciplinary consequences.
Rain
- Students may also stay inside on days of heavy rain.
School Closure
- On extremely rare occasions, school will be closed according to the Jordan School District school closure policy
- Parents and employees should listen to the following radio or television stations for school closure information between the hours of 6-8 a.m.
Radio stations: KSL 1160
Television stations: KSL Channel 5, KUTV Channel 2, KTVX Channel 4, Fox Channel 13
Schools also may close early for emergencies.
- Media outlets will air updates as soon as possible.
- Automated (SKYLERT) messages will be sent via phone or email.
- Emergency closures in year-round schools will be made up first on Washington and Lincoln Day, then on Spring Recess.
- All school closures are for one day only.
Air Quality
- We use Riverton area WeatherBug stations to get daily air quality alerts.
- On High alert days, students with asthma or other respiratory conditions will stay inside.
Changes
- School administration will determine whether students will remain inside or go outside according to current weather conditions. It is likely that this decision may change several times within a day.
Dress Code
Students shall dress in a manner that shows respect for the educational environment and is befitting the day’s activities. Students’ clothing and jewelry must not present a health or safety hazard or distraction, which would disrupt the educational mission. Disruption is defined as reactions by other individuals to the clothing or adornment, which causes the teacher/administrator to lose the attention of the students, to modify or cease instructional activities, or to deal with student confrontations or complaints.
- Items that disrupt the educational mission shall not be allowed. Personal items such as clothing, paraphernalia, jewelry, backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles, etc., shall be free of writing, pictures, or any other insignias, which are crude, vulgar, profane, violent, or sexually suggestive.
- Items which bear advertising, promotions and likeness of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs or which are contrary to the educational mission, shall not be allowed.
- All students shall maintain their hair, mustaches, sideburns, and beards in a clean, well-groomed manner. Hair, which is so conspicuous, extreme, odd in color or style that it draws undue attention, disrupts, or tends to disrupt or interfere with the learning atmosphere at the school, shall not be allowed.
- Clothing, jewelry, accessories and piercings which are so conspicuous, extreme, or odd that they may draw undue attention, disrupt, or tend to disrupt, interfere with or pose a health or safety issue to the learning atmosphere at the school, shall not be allowed.
- All students shall wear clean clothing. Students shall not wear clothes that are mutilated, cut off, or immodest, e.g., short shorts, mini skirts, bare midriffs, halter-tops, spaghetti straps, tank shirts, or similar clothing. Clothing shall cover the midriff, underwear, backs, and cleavage at all times. Skirts, dresses and shorts must be at least mid-thigh length or longer when seated. All shirts must cover the entire shoulder of the student; no muscle shirts should be worn.
- Jackets or clothing with insignias representing any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or insignias that do not reflect the dignity of learning, modesty, and the principles of education are not to be worn.
- Hats of any kind are not allowed within the building except as part of an approved activity, or for religious, or medical purposes.
- School officials may require students to wear certain types of clothing for health or safety reasons in connection with certain specialized activities.
- Gang-related clothing, colors, and paraphernalia shall not be allowed in schools or activities. School officials will determine what constitutes “gang” clothing, colors, and paraphernalia after consultation with law enforcement agencies as needed.
- Shoes shall be worn at all times that ensure personal safety and hygiene.
To review the entire policy, visit the District website at www.jordandistrict.org
Cell Phone Policy
We understand the need for students to be able to contact parents using cell phones. However, we do not want cell phones to interrupt the school day. Cell phone use is ONLY allowed before or after school. Parents who need to communicate with their students during the school day should contact the main office.
Student Consequences for cell phone use during the school day:
1st Offense: Teacher will explain the rule to the student. Student is allowed to keep the cell phone in backpack only.
2nd Offense: Teacher will take cell phone and return it to the student at the end of the day. Teacher will also notify parents.
3rd Offense: Teacher will take cell phone and give it to the office. Parent or guardian must pick up phone from office.
*All further offenses will result in this consequence.