South Orangetown Middle School

Attendance

About Absences

Attendance is checked every period and marked electronically by the class teacher. Regularity of attendance and punctuality is required of all students. If you are absent from class(es), calls will be made home by the automated attendance system. Absence, tardiness, or departure from school before the end of the school day will be excused for the following reasons only:

  • Illness
  • Serious illness or death in the family
  • Serious, contagious epidemic disease in the household where you reside
  • Doctor appointments which cannot be arranged for any other time
  • Required presence in court
  • Other activities with prior approval of the Principal

You will be required to make up missed school work during periods of absence. In the event of an unexcused absence and/or failure to make up work missed, a grade(s) of zero maybe assigned. Any unexcused absence will be treated as truancy (illegal absence from school).

Eighth-grade students enrolled in classes bearing high school credit are subject to the TZHS minimum attendance procedure.

Requesting Absentee Assignments

In the event of an extended absence due to illness, please call the Counseling Office at (845) 680-1106 to request assignments. The secretary will put out a homework request for your child. Teachers have 24 hours from the time of request to submit assignments for pick up. Parents/guardians can pick up these assignments in the Counseling Office. The student needs to be absent at least two (2) school days in order for a formal request to be honored.

Assignments will not be provided in advance if a student is taking extended vacation time. In the case of a brief period of absenteeism, students should call a classmate or check teacher websites for assignments. There is a page available in the student handbook to place classmates’ phone numbers for each subject area. Students are encouraged to have at least two contacts per subject area written in their student handbook from the start of the school year. Parents/guardians should check their child’s student handbook to ensure their child obtained this information.

Reporting Absences

Please use our attendance email address, attendancesoms@socsd.org, when contacting the school for attendance related matters, or call (845) 680-1143.

Full Day Absence: Any full day absence from school should be reported by the parent/guardian to the Main Office on the day of, or before the absence. You may attach documentation when applicable.

Lateness: Please send your child with a note if they arrive late to school Students must report to the Main Office as soon as they arrive at school to obtain a Late Pass.

Early Dismissal: Students must obtain an Early Dismissal Pass from the Main Office prior to leaving school. Please send a note in for early dismissal which includes a phone number where we can contact you.

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