Attendance

If your student will be absent for the entire school day, please call our 24-Hour Absence Line at 714-628-5877 on the day of the absence. Leave the following information in your message:

• Student’s full name
• Student ID number
• Reason for the absence

If a parent or guardian does not call on the day of the absence, the student can bring a handwritten note to the Attendance Office within 48 hours of returning to school. The note must include:

• Student’s full name and ID number
• Date(s) and period(s) of absence
• Reason for the absence
• Parent or guardian signature written in ink

If your student needs to leave school before the end of the day, you have three options for requesting an early dismissal:

1. Send a Note with Your Student (Preferred Method)
   • Write a note including your student’s full name, ID number, reason for dismissal, and the time they need to leave.
   • Your student should bring the note to the Attendance Office before school starts.
   • This allows time for an off-campus pass to be delivered to them during class for a smooth, on-time release.
2. Call the Attendance Office
   • If you are unable to send a note, call 714-628-5322 at least an hour and a half in advance of the requested dismissal time.
   • This gives staff time to notify your student and issue an off-campus pass.
   • Important: Do not call the 24-Hour Absence Line for early dismissal requests.
3. Sign Out in Person
   • Parents may sign students out in person at the Attendance Office with a valid ID or Passport. 

Arriving at class on time is essential for maximizing learning and minimizing disruptions. A student is considered tardy if they are not physically inside the classroom when the bell rings.

A student is considered truant if they miss class without a valid excuse, or if they arrive more than 30 minutes late without a legitimate reason. In these cases, the student must report to the Attendance Office to receive a pass before going to class.

Consequences for Truancy

• Each individual truancy results in one hour of detention.
• Detentions can be cleared by attending Lunch Detention or Saturday School.

How to Monitor Truancies

• Students should check their attendance weekly using the Student Portal.
• Detention hours are updated weekly and posted every Friday afternoon at:
  CanyonHighSchool.org/resources/detention-list

Disputing a Truancy

If a student believes a truancy was recorded in error, they may pick up an Attendance Correction Form from their teacher. The form must be completed and signed by the appropriate teacher to clear the truancy.

Zero period classes are optional and meet before the regular school day begins. Because these classes start early, students must take extra care to maintain consistent, on-time attendance. In most cases, there is a direct connection between strong attendance and academic success. 

This policy promotes accountability and helps preserve the integrity of zero period instruction.

To ensure fairness and consistency, once  a student becomes chronically absent, additional absences may be marked unexcused unless they are accompanied by official documentation (e.g., doctor’s note). Excessive unexcused absences may result subject to interventions or a referral to the school’s attendance review team.

We encourage parents and guardians to communicate with the Attendance Office if long-term absences are anticipated or if unusual circumstances arise.

We view parents and guardians as key partners in the success of our attendance policy. In order to maintain open communication about absences, tardies, and truancies, please ensure your contact information is current in the Parent Portal. This allows our Attendance Office to notify you promptly of any attendance concerns.

To help you better monitor your student’s attendance record, our office uses the following absence codes: