Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 11:24     Subject: unexcused absence for all state band activity?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

E-mail the principal.

Dear Principal,

My child missed school on [date] to test for all-state band. She turned in a registration slip which was signed by me, the music teacher, and you. I found out on [date] that the school has marked the absence as unexcused. When I called the school attendance secretary, [name], on [date], to ask why, she said that the activity was not school-related. But the activity was school-related! My child did this activity as part of her band elective in school. Could you please explain why the absence was marked as unexcused?

Sincerely,

[you]


Leave out the ! mark and I wouldn't ask "please explain why the absence was marked as unexcused." End with, something like please advise me on how to have attendance secretary correct it.

Definitely leave out "please explain why" and end with what you want: Kindly authorize Attendance to indicate that the absence was excused. Thank you." And cc Attendance on the email.
Always let them go the path of least resistance, that is, presumably the principal with hit reply all and say "Maggie (attendance lady) please take care of this."
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 11:15     Subject: unexcused absence for all state band activity?
Anonymous wrote:Leave out the ! mark and I wouldn't ask "please explain why the absence was marked as unexcused." End with, something like please advise me on how to have attendance secretary correct it.


"Ask nicely!" PP here, I agree with both suggestions above. Even better, "Could you please advise me as to whether the attendance secretary correct it? If there is anything I can do to assist, please let me know."
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 11:10     Subject: unexcused absence for all state band activity?
Anonymous wrote:

E-mail the principal.

Dear Principal,

My child missed school on [date] to test for all-state band. She turned in a registration slip which was signed by me, the music teacher, and you. I found out on [date] that the school has marked the absence as unexcused. When I called the school attendance secretary, [name], on [date], to ask why, she said that the activity was not school-related. But the activity was school-related! My child did this activity as part of her band elective in school. Could you please explain why the absence was marked as unexcused?

Sincerely,

[you]


Leave out the ! mark and I wouldn't ask "please explain why the absence was marked as unexcused." End with, something like please advise me on how to have attendance secretary correct it.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 11:08     Subject: unexcused absence for all state band activity?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Was this proactively communicated with all of her teachers? High school athletes typically have after-school practices/ competitions; if they have to miss school, they have to coordinate that in advance, and it is still an absence.


yes after the acceptance letter, the registration slip need to be signed by parents, the music teacher and the school principle. this is absence, but how is it unexcused? I called the school attendance secretary and she explained the activity was not school related. I couldn't understand how it was not school related, - only kids enrolled in school music class were eligible to test.


E-mail the principal.

Dear Principal,

My child missed school on [date] to test for all-state band. She turned in a registration slip which was signed by me, the music teacher, and you. I found out on [date] that the school has marked the absence as unexcused. When I called the school attendance secretary, [name], on [date], to ask why, she said that the activity was not school-related. But the activity was school-related! My child did this activity as part of her band elective in school. Could you please explain why the absence was marked as unexcused?

Sincerely,

[you]


Thank you. I will try.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 11:06     Subject: unexcused absence for all state band activity?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Was this proactively communicated with all of her teachers? High school athletes typically have after-school practices/ competitions; if they have to miss school, they have to coordinate that in advance, and it is still an absence.


yes after the acceptance letter, the registration slip need to be signed by parents, the music teacher and the school principle. this is absence, but how is it unexcused? I called the school attendance secretary and she explained the activity was not school related. I couldn't understand how it was not school related, - only kids enrolled in school music class were eligible to test.


E-mail the principal.

Dear Principal,

My child missed school on [date] to test for all-state band. She turned in a registration slip which was signed by me, the music teacher, and you. I found out on [date] that the school has marked the absence as unexcused. When I called the school attendance secretary, [name], on [date], to ask why, she said that the activity was not school-related. But the activity was school-related! My child did this activity as part of her band elective in school. Could you please explain why the absence was marked as unexcused?

Sincerely,

[you]
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 10:57     Subject: unexcused absence for all state band activity?
Anonymous wrote:Have the Principal (who signed it) explain it to the secretary.


+1

(Ask nicely!)
Sounds like an excused absence to me. Maybe the secretary has never encountered this sort of situation before.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 10:54     Subject: unexcused absence for all state band activity?
Have the Principal (who signed it) explain it to the secretary.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 10:53     Subject: unexcused absence for all state band activity?
Anonymous wrote:Was this proactively communicated with all of her teachers? High school athletes typically have after-school practices/ competitions; if they have to miss school, they have to coordinate that in advance, and it is still an absence.


yes after the acceptance letter, the registration slip need to be signed by parents, the music teacher and the school principle. this is absence, but how is it unexcused? I called the school attendance secretary and she explained the activity was not school related. I couldn't understand how it was not school related, - only kids enrolled in school music class were eligible to test.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 10:46     Subject: Re:unexcused absence for all state band activity?
My son is an athlete. Whenever he misses school we receive a letter from the tournament. It is an excused absence. You should see how other band parents dealt with it.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 10:44     Subject: unexcused absence for all state band activity?
Was this proactively communicated with all of her teachers? High school athletes typically have after-school practices/ competitions; if they have to miss school, they have to coordinate that in advance, and it is still an absence.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2014 10:40     Subject: unexcused absence for all state band activity?
My Child tested in all state band so was absent for a day from school, then she was marked unexcused absence for a whole day; isn't this odd? She chose a band elective in school and her school music teacher recommended her to go for the test, and then be marked unexcused absence?

This makes me wonder how the attendence record of high school athlets would look like?