Attendance

• Westlake HS requires an email (whsattendance@eanesisd.net) with any pertinent documentation within 48 hours of your student’s return that states the reason and date(s) of absence. 

• We do not accept phone calls or hand written notes. This is due to volume and to maintain proper records per TEA.

• Supporting documentation must be received within 5 days of the absence.

• Due to the number of emails received, please allow at least 2-3 business days for updates and corrections to your student’s attendance record.

• Students with more than 9 absences and/or 3 tardies in a class may be subject to a referral, may not be allowed to exempt their final in that class.  More than 9 absences in any class may result in loss of credit.

• Reminder: You may review your student’s attendance record in Skyward. View Common Attendance Codes.

If your student arrives at school after 8:30, remind them to report to the Attendance Office so we can properly record the time they arrived and change their absence status.  Do not go to class first, even if it is during a passing period or lunch.  Their teacher will not be able to change their attendance that has already been recorded. 

Before day of appointment:

1. Parents/guardians must email whsattendance@eanesisd.net stating the time your student [legal name/student ID] will be leaving for an appointment.

2.  All emails notifying us of an appointment must be received at least 50 minutes prior to the pick-up time.

On day of appointment:

3. Students must come to the Attendance Office before school or in between class periods to pick up their “Permit-To-Leave” Slip. They will show their teacher the pass, allowing them to leave class for the appointment at that specific time. 

Upon returning:

4. Your student needs to check in with the Attendance Office. 

5. Supporting documentation can be presented by the student, or can be emailed by you

6. The attendance office will then code absence accurately and direct your student to the proper class. 

7. Reminder: email and present documentation to the Attendance Office; do not give or email notes to the teacher. 

NOTE:  Parent email and Doctor’s Notes are subject to random verification.

If your student is absent for one or more periods, and if documentation has not been received, you will receive a phone call, text or email from Skyward System about their absence at the end of the school day. If you have emailed the attendance office, please disregard this notification.  Please allow 48 hours or two business days for any absence codes to appear.  Student attendance for school related absences will be automatically entered (e.g., field trip, athletic event). 

If you feel you were contacted in error:

1. For absences/tardies in a single class, please email the teacher to inquire. The teacher will then contact the Attendance Office to correct any mistakes.

2. For questions on whole day absences email the Attendance Office.

Family commitments or events that occur during the school year and lasting several days  require your student to obtain an Extended Absence / Family Travel Notification Form (see Resources section below). Fill this out a week prior to the absence and turn it in to your AP for approval; they will forward to the Attendance Office.

• Prior to the visit: 

  • please refer to information on the WHS Counseling Website. 

  • there is no form required, but you may want to email Attendance so a “Personal Absence” may be entered and teachers will be made aware of the upcoming absence.

• After your visit:

  • Please forward any agendas, visitation forms, or emails from the college thanking your student for visiting their campus, or attending their tour.

  • Please note: the required documentation is something you receive after you have actually visited the campus, not something thanking you for registering for a visit.  We require verification from the institution, either an email or a letter. (Note: We are no longer using paper College Visit Verification forms.)

* TEA allows each Junior and Senior 2 college days (including a travel day) per year. If you are requesting additional college days, you will need permission from your assistant principal for it to be coded as a college visit instead of a personal absence.

All requests for VOE's are done by the Counseling Office, and are filled by emailing whsvoe@eanesisd.net.  A student must be in accordance with the Texas Compulsory Attendance Law to obtain a VOE.  If you have questions, please call Laura Davis at 512-732-9280, ext 33040.

• Extended Absence/Family Travel Notification Form

• Religious Holy Day Absence Form

• EISD Student Handbook  (Attendance section begins on page 33)

• State Attendance Accounting Handbook (TEA) 
  The section pertaining to excused absences is contained on pages 58-63

Why do I have to send an email when my child is absent?

An email from parent/guardian is considered a documented absence [D] and allows your student to make up classwork missed without penalty. No email equals a zero for the day because it is an unexcused absence [U].

How do I contact the attendance office?

Email us at whsattendance@eanesisd.net. Please include student’s First, Middle and Last Name in the Subject line with their student ID number. We have quite a few students with the same name, so please be as detailed as possible and avoid nicknames.

What is the difference between Excused and Documented?

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has set out specific conditions under which a student may be excused from classes and these are funded by the state. Other student absences may not be excused or funded by TEA, but are accepted by Eanes ISD and the student may make up work - these are considered documented absences.  An email from a parent/guardian can document an absence and allow your student to make up classwork missed without penalty. No email equals a zero for the day because it is an unexcused absence [U]. For a full explanation, please refer to the excused absences section of the SAAH Handbook found in the “Resources” section above.

What do I do if my student is sick?

Email whsattendance@eanesisd.net first thing in the morning or the night before and let us know. We will update their record and their teachers will be able to see they are out sick.  Please email each day they are absent. This ensures accurate attendance should your child return earlier than expected, or must be out longer than anticipated.

How do I check my student out of school?

Refer to the “Appointments” Section on this webpage; there is also information provided in the “Auto reply” to all email messages.

My child was marked absent when they were only tardy. Can you change that?

We can only mark student status when the student checks in with the Attendance Office upon arriving at school. Depending on the time they arrived, it will be coded Tardy or Absent for the current class period. 

1st period -  students are counted tardy up to the first 15 minutes of class. Periods 2 through 8 - students are considered tardy after 7 minutes. These absences / tardies are marked by the classroom teacher – please address questions to them.  The attendance office can only make corrections with the teacher’s approval. 

Does a doctor’s note excuse an absence? 

When a student is on campus at least part of the day, the absence for the periods missed is fully excused/funded by the doctor’s note (per TEA).  A full day’s absence from instruction is not excused/funded (per TEA) but the student is able to make up work and tests per Eanes ISD policy with a parent email or doctor’s note.

Does my student need a note if he/she is checking out early - 15 minutes or more?

Yes. A student must be present for 90% of the class period to be counted present. For example, a 4 PM checkout still needs a doctor’s note the next day to be posted as “excused”. This absence will not count against their attendance or exemptions.

My doctor has recommended my student stay home for 2 or more days.  What do I need to provide to you?

You should send an email with the doctor's note attached that states they should stay home for XX days.  You must also email us each day they are out so that their absence will be coded correctly for the day - you do not need to attach the original note to subsequent emails. Your daily email update avoids errors/confusion in the event they decide to return to school early or remain at home longer than expected.

Why did I get an attendance call when I wrote an email or provided documentation?

Skyward alerts parents of absences at the end of each day.  Due to the large volume of emails, please allow 48 hours (2 business days) for your email or documentation to be posted. If you know your child was absent and have sent an email to the attendance office, please disregard the Skyward message.

 

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