How do I contact the Attendance Specialist?
Esmeraldo Santillan Martinez
Fax: 281-641-6017
Phone: 281-641-6003
Email: esantil@humbleisd.net
What is the district policy on attendance?
All students are expected to attend school regularly and to be on time to class for the entire period of each of his/her classes in order to receive maximum benefits from their instructional programs. To receive credit in a class, state law requires that a student must attend at least 90% of the days that class is offered.
What should a parent/guardian do if their student is arriving late to school?
If your student is arriving late to school (arriving any time after the tardy bell for first period)for any reason (except that the official school bus is late), the parent/guardian must call or come into the attendance office to check the student into school.
If the parent/guardian comes into the school, he or she must first go to the front desk and show a valid driver's license/id.
The student will need a dated, written, and signed note from the parent/guardian explaining why he or she was late arriving to school. The student will need to bring this note to the Attendance office.
It is the student's responsibility to see that his/her note is turned in to the attendance office.
What should a parent/guardian do if their student is absent from school?
If your student is absent from school for any reason, the parent/guardian should call the attendance office. Even if the parent/guardian calls, the student will need a dated, written, and signed note from the parent/guardian explaining why the student was absent. The student will need to bring this note to the Attendance office.
If the student was under a doctor's care, he/she will need a note (on the office/clinic/hospital stationary) from the doctor, with the date(s) they were under the physician's care.
In accordance with the student handbook, the student has two days after his/her return to school to bring an absence excuse . It is the student's responsibility to see that his/her note is turned in to the attendance office. If no excuse is submitted for the absence, then it will be regarded as truancy. Also, the student will receive a "zero" for the work that he or she has missed.
What are the check out procedures?
Students may be checked out during the school day until 3:35pm Monday through Thursday and until 12:30pm on Friday.
In the event of a planned check out, students must provide a check-out note to the attendance office before the first bell rings. As an alternative, the legal parent or guardian may fax a note to 281-641-6017 (Attention: Attendance) before 8:25am. The note should include the student's full name, grade, date and time of check-out, and a phone number where parent guardian can be contacted.
Students will be issued a check out pass to meet the parent/guardian at the indicated time in the attendance office.
The parent/guardian will first go to the front office and show a valid driver's license/id photo identification in order to be admitted into the building.
Parent/guardian will then go to the Attendance Office and show a valid driver's license/id photo identification to the Attendance Specialist. The Attendance Specialist will determine if the parent/guardian has authorized the student to be released to the person requesting release.
In order for a student to be released,the name of the person who is picking up the student must be on the Ross Sterling Middle School Attendance card. The name on the attendance card and the name on the picture id must match.
Students cannot be released to a person/person's who are not listed on the Emergency Release Information Form, unless prior arrangements have been made by the parent/guardian. A written note must be submitted to the attendance office in advance (before school starts) of student check-out, giving that person/persons authorization to pick-up his/her child.
If your child leaves campus for a medical appointment, he/she must bring a doctor's visit notification form/note when returning to school. The doctor's note will need to include the date(s) that he/she was under their care and the note will need to be on the doctor's office, clinic, or hospital stationary. If your student returns the same day, sign back in the attendance office and they will be given a pass to class.
What if a student gets sick during the day and needs to go home?
Students will bring their clinic pass to the attendance office to receive a checkout pass. Your child will need to sign out through the attendance office and will need to bring their check out pass to attendance upon their return to school.
NO CHECK-OUT IS PERMITTED BY TELEPHONE
How can a parent request assignments for absent students?
When a student has been absent for three consecutive days, a request can be made through your child's Assistant Principal's office to collect homework. The work can be collected and picked up in your child's grade level Principal's Office after the student's third consecutive absence.
Why wasn't my student's absence excused?
The Attendance Office will not change the "U (Unexcused)" code if the note is turned in later than two days following the absence.
If the student left campus without checking out through the attendance office, the absence cannot be cleared. It is considered an unexcused absence.
