ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES/POLICY

Attending school each and every day is critical to the educational success of our students.  When a student misses classes the learning that occurred while they were out cannot be replicated.  Because of this, the following procedures/policy is designed to encourage students to be in school.  

  • Parent/Guardian Responsibility 

    • If your child is absent, it is your responsibility to contact the school prior to the absence (pre-arranged) or on the day of the absence (illness related).  

    • Communication to the SMS office regarding your child’s absence can be done via a phone call, email, written note, or in person.

      • Text messages will NOT be accepted to excuse absences.

    • Failure to provide this information within two days of your child’s absence will result in the absence being categorized as “Unexcused” and could result in your child being truant.

    • You may contact the Somerset Middle School attendance secretary at 715-247-4400, by email at bgostovich@somerset.k12.wi.us, or in person at the middle school.


  • Tardiness

    • All students are expected to be in class by 8:00 a.m. each school day.  Students who arrive after 8:15 a.m. will be considered absent for the class, as they have missed a significant portion of the learning.

    • When a student is late to school they must check-in at the office and receive a pass to go to class.  They may not report directly to class without a pass from the office.

    • Choosing to excuse a tardy to school will count as one parent excuse day.

    • Student-athletes are required to be in school no later than 10:00 a.m. in order to participate in practice or competition that day.  The only exception to this is if the student provides a signed and dated professional’s note excusing the student late to school.

    • Students who do not have any parent excuse days remaining may be assigned detentions or referred for truancy for being late to school by any amount of time.


  • Parent Excuse Days

    • According to Wisconsin state law, “A parent may excuse their son/daughter for all or part of ten (10) school days for any reason that the parent chooses.”

    • A student may be excused by a parent note from school no more than 10 school days.

    • If a student is absent for any part of a school day, this will count as a parent excuse day used.

    •  In order to use a parent excuse day, a parent/guardian must notify the Somerset Middle School office attendance secretary via telephone, email, a written note, or in-person (with the required information listed above) within two school days of the absence.

    • Failure to notify the middle school office within three school days will result in the absence to school being counted as unexcused and subject to truancy.


  • Professional’s Notes

    • Somerset Middle School will honor professional’s notes excusing absences.  Professional’s notes, provided to the school within two school days of the absence.  Somerset Middle School will not honor any professional’s notes which are unsigned, without a date of service, or provided to the office outside of the two day time frame.

    • A note of excuse will be accepted from the following professionals: licensed physicians, dentists/orthodontists, chiropractors, optometrists/ophthalmologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified practice nurses, licensed clinical counselors, licensed psychologists, licensed social workers, attorneys, clerk of courts, and judges.

    • Absences being excused by a professional’s note will not be considered a parent excuse day.