Regular and consistent attendance by students is critical to fully take advantage of the educational program. State law makes parents responsible for their child's school attendance, and it is the responsibility of every student to keep absences to an absolute minimum. Frequent absences disrupt the education of the absent student as well as fellow students. Everyone loses when someone is not present because students learn from the discussion, views, and experiences of fellow students. We encourage parents to send their children to school every day. Please reference Wyoming State Statue-Compulsory attendance. File: JED-R Revised 5/22/07In an effort to maintain the ninety percent (90%) attendance that is required to successfully complete all classes at elementary school and address the problem of chronic absenteeism, North will adhere to the following attendance guidelines:

Students with 1-5 absences will receive automated phone calls from the attendance office. On the fifth absence, the attendance secretary will call the parent/guardian and inform them of the student's fifth absence. The absence will then be reported to the appropriate grade level for them to record and to keep them informed in case further action is required.

Students with 6-10 absences will receive phone calls with each absence. Parents/guardians will also receive phone calls, emails and/or texts from a teacher, counselor and/or administrator in order to discuss the absence and explain how and if the absences are affecting the student's academics. The school will ask the family and student to problem solve any barriers to school attendance, develop a plan of action and follow through until attendance has improved. This plan will be designed according to individual needs and will be supportive in nature.

Students with Eleven (11) or more absences will be contacted to set up a meeting with the parents/guardians and their student. It is believed that students who continue to miss school after a previous attendance plan was unsuccessful may need intensive supports in this area. Teachers, counselors, administrators and other personnel will attend this meeting where attendance will be discussed and appropriate supports decided upon. Community partners and services may also be part of a student's plan at this level of intervention and information gathered from these meetings will then be shared by the school with these organizations.***North Elementary understands that students become ill, have family emergencies or opportunities to have enriching experiences outside of school during the school year. These excused and well-planned events will not require intervention. Our efforts are to address chronic, problematic school refusal and truancy. Thank you in advance for working with our school to improve their educational opportunities.

Absences-Excused/Unexcused/Truancy Parents are asked to call the North Elementary office (789-7658) if their child is going to miss school or is ill. If a telephone is not available, a signed and dated note on the day the child returns to school will be acceptable. School personnel will call home each time a child is not in school. Absences not excused in a timely manner by a parent telephone call or note will be considered unexcused.An excused absence is any absence caused by illness or medical appointment, a death in the immediate family, mandated court appearance, approved religious holidays, family emergency, hospitalization, or a pre-approved family absence.

Arriving Late For School Any student arriving late for school must check in at the office for attendance, lunch count, and to obtain a classroom late pass. Parents are asked to send a note or make a telephone call to excuse a tardy. Unexcused absences and/or unexcused tardies may result in the need for a conference with both the students and parents.

Make Up Work Students who are absent from school are required to make up work assigned during their absence. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain make-up work assignments from his/her teacher immediately upon return to school. For an excused absence, a student will be allowed equal time to the day(s) missed. Exceptions may be permitted depending upon the circumstances of the excused absence and/or the type of assignment made. No deduction from grades is to be made for an approved absence, provided the work is made up within the allotted time.

Students are expected to play outside during all recesses. Parents are asked to dress their children appropriately for the often sudden and extreme Wyoming weather changes. Children's outerwear (coats, gloves/mittens, hats, boots, snowsuits/pants, etc.) should be labeled to aid in return of lost or misplaced items. Neat, clean, and appropriate is the guide to regular student dress. If a problem arises in this area, parents will be contacted. Tank tops, spaghetti straps, exposed midriffs, short shorts, and t-shirts with inappropriate sayings on them are not allowed. Shorts should be at least the length reached by the fingertips when arms are at the side. Spandex and bicycle shorts should be worn with a shirt long enough to cover the buttocks. No hats or bandanas should be worn inside the school building. Flip-flops should not be worn on the playground or to PE class.

RE: School Closure and “Delayed Start” Options

Dear Parents or Guardians,

Uinta County School District #1 understands the decision to close school due to inclement weather has an impact on families and the community. It is understood that we live in a climate where the weather can be severe at any time during the school year.

On rare occasions, Evanston receives an exceptionally heavy nighttime snow. If the storm continues into the morning, hazardous road conditions interfere with school buses transporting students, parents driving their students to school, students driving to school, and employees being able to get to school on time. If such conditions exist, we would declare a “Delayed Start” snow day rather than closing school for a full day.

If a “Delayed Start” day is announced, all school starting times and bus schedules would be moved back exactly two hours. For example, if your bus pickup is at 7:30 a.m., the bus will arrive at the pickup location at 9:30 a.m. Starting times for the schools on a “Delayed Start” schedule are listed below.

A "Delayed Start" would allow additional time for city and county road crews to plow the streets and district employees to open schools and plow parking lots and clear sidewalks. Parents who have to work can do so, knowing bus schedules will be delayed and schools will be open after a two hour delay. dismissal times for schools would not change.

UCSD #1 will use a calling system called “Code Red.” and the district's Power School to notify parents. Once a decision is made by school officials about school closure or a delayed start, the system will notify all parents and guardians through the emergency phone numbers and email accounts provided to the schools at the beginning of the school year. Both systems can make al of these calls and send text messages in a matter of minutes.

When a decision has to be made regarding school closure or a delayed start, many different factors are taken into consideration; the primary factor, however, is student safety. Factors that influence school closure or a delayed start include:

Current weather conditions including amount of snow, temperature (including wind chill), and ground effect caused or by wind (drifting snow and visibility).

Local road conditions from a variety of sources including our transportation staff, from city and county road crews, and from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

School building conditions including public access to school buildings and to parking (snow removal)

The weather forecast including radar for the entire school day. We prefer not making our decision based on weather prediction, which are not always accurate, but sometimes this may be unavoidable. Once students are at school they would not be sent home early except in an emergency or a major unforeseeable event (loss of power and/or heat). In such and event the district would make every effort to provide adequate notice to all parents.

School district officials will try to make a decision regarding closure no later than 6:00 a.m. at which time the system would be used to notify all parents and guardians of a closure or delayed start. Also, the district's web site www.uinta1.com and local radio stations will be notified immediately of the closure or delayed start. Please be aware that not all of the local radio stations are "live" at 6:00 a.m. On severe weather mornings, no announcement from UCSD #1 means that schools will be open and following normal schedules.

It is very important that parents and guardians keep the district updated with their latest phone numbers and emergency contact information. The "Swift Alert" system and district social media will be updated regularly by the district but can only call the phone numbers provided by parents.

As mentioned before, it is understood that we live in a climate where the weather can be a challenge. Our job is to provide a safe and orderly environment where students can learn and grow. Every effort is made to keep schools open and operating safely. However, UCSD #1 has no control of the weather or road conditions. A delayed start gives us another way to keep students in school and manage the severe weather. Additional information will follow from your school regarding keeping your emergency information up to date and necessary details.

Sincerely,

Ryan N Thomas, Superintendent Uinta County School District #1

Dr. Joseph Ingalls, Superintendent

Mr. Douglas Rigby, Superintendent

***Click on View More to see "Delayed Start" schedule***