Attendance Helpline
Student Absence Reporting
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The health and safety of our students is of the utmost importance. Accurate attendance information ensures that we can identify students who need support and, therefore, is a key component in keeping our school community safe. To ensure that the school has accurate, timely information regarding students who are absent, New Trier utilizes a centralized attendance reporting procedure through the PowerSchool Parent Portal .
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Attendance Expectations
- On time arrival: New Trier values the Adviser Program and it is part of the student’s school day. Therefore, on time arrival and consistent attendance to adviser room is expected (8:00 a.m. for Northfield and 8:20 a,m. for Winnetka )
- A student may be excused from school because of illness, mental health day (limit of 5 days per year), observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the Board, or such other circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the safety or health of the student. Absences for reasons other than valid cause will be subject to academic and disciplinary consequences
- A student cannot be excused from one class to stay at school and study for another class. If a student is in the building, they must attend all scheduled classes. When a student is in the building, any absences from scheduled classes will be considered unexcused.
- If school makes an error in attendance, the student should resolve the error the next day with the appropriate teacher or staff member. Parents should not submit an absence form to excuse students in these cases.
- If leaving campus for times other than a lunch period, students need to sign out at the Attendance Office. If students are ill, they need to sign out via Health Services.
- When a student is finished with their school day, they are able to leave the building for the remainder of the day and are not required to sign out at this time of day at the Winnetka Campus.
- A student is not to be on campus when excused from school.
- Special absences - students who will miss school for planned absences (vacations, college visits, non-school related events) are to make arrangements a week prior to departing. Parents must submit an absence form through PowerSchool. Absences not arranged according to these directions may be marked Leave Not Prearranged, and students may not be entitled to earn full credit for missed work.
- Students are allowed up to five (5) mental health absences per school year. After a student accrues two (2) days of absence for mental health, communication with the student and/or parent/guardian may occur to determine the need for possible additional support.
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Reporting an Absence
Go to the PowerSchool Portal . Sign in and select "Attendance Monitor" (bottom of the left side navigation bar). Click on "Report New Attendance". Enter the required information, enter an explanation and click on Submit.
Parents/guardians can report an absence through PowerSchool only on the date of the absence or for future planned absences. After the date of the absence, a parent will need to contact the Attendance Office at 847-784-2286 and leave a message with the absence information.
Any absence not corrected within 48 hours will result in the student being subject to academic and disciplinary consequences.
Parent PowerSchool login should not be given to students. Students found entering their own attendance excusals will be subject to disciplinary consequences. Students have their own login for all they need to access in PowerSchool.
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Reporting a Late Arrival or Early Dismissal
If a student will miss a class due to a late arrival to school or an early dismissal from school, parents should follow the procedures for reporting an absence.
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Absence Due to COVID-19
It is imperative that parents immediately contact Health Services at New Trier if their student is diagnosed with COVID-19 by calling 847-784-2110 or by emailing healthservices@nths.net .