An excused absence is when a student misses school for a valid reason. Acceptable reasons include:
Illness or injury (If the illness lasts more than 5 days, a note from a doctor is required.)
A death in the family
Health care appointments (Note from doctor required)
Court appearances
Religious observance
Natural disasters
Outside educational opportunities (You must complete the Request for Excused Absence for Educational Reasons Form in advance.)
When your child is absent from school, you should write a note that includes the following information:
1. Your Child's Full Name
Clearly write your child's first and last name. This helps the school identify who the note is for.
2. The Date of the Absence
Include the date or dates your child was absent. For example:
“My child was absent on January 15, 2025.”
3. The Reason for the Absence
Provide a brief reason for the absence.
Dear SGHS Attendance Office,
Please excuse my child, [Child's Full Name], for being absent on [Date of Absence]. The reason for their absence was [Reason for Absence].
Thank you,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Relationship to the Child (e.g., Parent, Guardian)]
[Your Contact Information]
Important Reminder:
Make sure to sign and date the note before sending it to the school.
A note explaining the reason for the absence can be submitted in writing when the child returns to school or emailed to sghs-attendance@wcpss.net. It must be submitted within 2 days of your child's return to school. Notes submitted after 2 days will be considered unexcused.
Phone calls cannot excuse absences.
Regular attendance by every student is mandatory. For more information, see the Wake County Attendance Policy.
WCPSS requires students to be in attendance 85% of the previous semester to be eligible to participate.
WCPSS requires the athlete to be present the entire day in order to participate in activities or practices.
Please have your student speak with the teacher who marked them absent. They will be able to confirm that they were in class, and change the attendance records.