Family Resources

Washburn Parent and Student Handbook

Washburn has high expectations for student attendance, which is essential for strong academic achievement.  We ask that parents be our partners by ensuring each student is at school everyday and on time.

Under Minnesota Statute 120A.22 Compulsory Instruction, parents are responsible to enroll their children in school and to ensure that students under age 12 attend. Family authorized absences must be verified by a phone call or parent note. These absences may include student illness, family emergency, medical or dental appointments, major religious holidays or legal appointments. If a parent or guardian wishes to keep a child out of school for any reason other than those above (such as a family vacation), arrangements should be made in advance through the child’s teacher and the principal in order for those absences to be excused.  

State law requires schools to monitor attendance and send written notice to parents when a child has missed more than three unexcused days in a year. After six unexcused absences, the family will be referred to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (HCAO) be@school program. Additional unexcused absences will result in continued involvement of the HCAO, and may include a child protection report of educational neglect and court intervention.

Students arriving after 9 a.m. are considered tardy. Three unexcused tardies equal one unexcused absence. Continued tardiness could result in an educational neglect report.  Some examples of unexcused tardiness include overslept, missed bus and bad traffic. A student who misses more than two hours is marked as half-day absent.

If your child needs to leave school grounds during the school day for appointments (medical, dental, etc.):

  • Send a note to your child’s teacher stating the date, reason for leaving and time. The teacher will forward your note to the office. 
  • A parent/guardian needs to sign the child out at the school office when they're picked up, and sign them back in when they return. 

Arriving late to school because of an appointment:

  • A parent/guardian needs to sign the child in for late arrivals. This should be done even if it is only a few minutes.

 

When at all possible family trips should be planned so as to not interfere with a student’s school attendance and education. If this cannot be arranged and students must be absent from school for the purpose of a personal family matter or family vacation a pre-arrangement form must be filled out.

Vacation Pre-arrangement Forms

In order to help you in planning and accommodate your request, forms need to be turned in to the school office at least five school days prior to departure.

Students will be marked as unexcused for trips occurring on state mandated testing dates. Please check with your child’s teacher for the schedule of testing dates for their classroom.

Parents/students need to contact the teacher and make arrangements for makeup work before turning this form in to the office. Students are responsible for all missed assignments.

Student Resources