• 2020-2021 Distance Learning Attendance

    Attendance is a critical building block for student learning. If students are not present, they cannot engage in learning. The attendance rules for the 2020-2021 school year have been modified to accommodate distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. These rules support the state and Highland School District in addressing the challenge of chronic absenteeism, improving learning outcomes and success in school for all students.

    Distance learning is when daily learning activities are delivered through distance modalities, including, but not limited to, remote learning, hybrid classrooms, rotating schedules, and other methods that allow for the delivery of basic education services during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Distance learning activities may be synchronous or asynchronous. 

    Synchronous learning refers to a form of education, learning or instruction in which the student learns from the instructor in real time but not necessarily in person or in the same place. (Examples: Live Zoom or Live Microsoft Teams sessions)

    Asynchronous learning is a student-centered teaching technique in which online learning resources are used to enable information sharing between people in a network. In asynchronous learning, information sharing is not limited by place or time. (Examples: emails, chats (video or electronic), message posts, phone calls, evidence or participation in a task or assignment)

    Absence from distance learning occurs when the student is not participating in planned instructional activities on a scheduled distance learning day. For example, a student does not engage in synchronous or asynchronous learning activities on a given day where activities were scheduled.

    Excused Absence Reasons, see WAC 392-401A-020.

    HOW IS ATTENDANCE BEING DONE AT HHS?

    Highland High School students are expected to attend all scheduled synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. Teachers will be taking attendance daily. School messenger calls for absences will be made to families at 11am the day after scheduled learning activities. (Example, if a student does not engage in synchronous or asynchronous learning activities on Monday, a call will be made to families on Tuesday at 11am alerting parents of the previous day absence.)

     

    HOW CAN A STUDENT BE CONSIDERED PRESENT FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AT HHS?

    There are three ways a student can be considered present.

    1. Daily Logins to learning management systems. (examples include Zoom and/or Microsoft Teams)
    2. Daily Interactions with Teachers. (examples include messages, emails, phone calls or video chats)
    3. Evidence of participation in a task or assignment. (example includes completing and turning in an assignment)
       

    WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY STUDENT IS NOT ABLE TO BE PRESENT IN DISTANCE LEARNING FOR ONE PERIOD OR FULL DISTANCE LEARNING DAY?

    If your student has not been able to be present in any of the distance learning activities listed above for partial or full day there are two options.

    1. The absent student will click the Distance Learning Absence Form on the school website at HHS Distance Learning Check-In and complete the form by 11:59pm on the day of the absence.
    2. Parent communicates via phone (509-678-8801) or email ldiaz@highland.wednet.edu with HHS Attendance Secretary, Lourdes Diaz within 48 hours of the absence.

    WHAT HAPPENS IF MY STUDENTS ABSENCE IS NOT EXCUSED?

    If your student does not engage in any of the distance learning activities listed above and a parent does not communicate with the HHS Attendance Secretary within 48 hours, it will be considered an Unexcused Absence. Beginning on October 5th, unexcused absences that are not excused within 48 hrs. will be marked as Truant (skipping). Students who exhibit regular patterns of unexcused absence will be considered in the category of Chronic Absenteeism. Parents of students who have been identified as chronically absent will be required to attend a student engagement meeting to identify any barriers that exist and to create a plan to reduce the chronic absenteeism.  Students who have been identified for chronic absenteeism may be required to attend small cohort in-person learning on school campus at an agreed upon time.