Frequently Asked Questions

What if my student is tardy to school/class?
If your student is running late to school, please remember they ALWAYS have to report to the Front Office before going to class. If they are 15 minutes late (TARDY) or less, they will receive a tardy pass from the Attendance Office. If they miss MORE THAN 15 minutes of class, they are absent and will need a written excuse. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s attendance, please feel free to call anytime. Attendance office hours are 8:35 am to 5:05 pm.

When my child is sick our will be absent from school do I need to call in?
Roberts Middle School does not require you to call in or notify in advance.  Unless the student's absence will be more than 3 days.  If your student is expected to be absent more than 3 days - please email the Front Office Clerk gisselle.merlos@lcisd.org.

What is the procedure if my child needs to be picked up early?
In the event that you are picking up your student early, you will need to come into the lobby and sign them out.  Please note, latest pick up time is 4:00.  We will NOT allow a student to be signed out after 4:00pm.  
Check out procedures for 2022-2023 school year: 
(1)Enter into the Front Office of the school.
(2)Complete the check out form.
(3)Complete the form and submit. 
The attendance office will begin processing the check out, upon receiving the form.
++Also, please be prepared to show a valid State Issued Photo ID; this is LCISD policy and we enforce it at Roberts Middle School.
++Please do not text your student that you have arrived at campus for pick up, unless instructed by the front office. 

Do I need to send a note?
Yes, notes are required explaining any partial or full day absence.  Notes are due within FIVE (5) days from the absence.
A parent note will suffice if you do not think the illness warrants a visit to the doctor (Parents are allowed 5 written notes per semester)
If your student does see their doctor, please bring the original “Return to School” note from the doctor.
If your student is not sick but misses school for other documented purposes, official documents are required to excuse the absence, such as original court documents excusing student from school, signed by the court clerk, religious leaders, etc. (Please refer to the Attendance Policy in the Secondary Student Handbook for specifics).

What if I forget a note?
You have FIVE school days to bring notes in to the attendance office.  You may email a photo copy of the doctor's note to the attendance clerk.  This note must be on the medical's professional letter or "Return to School" notice from the doctor's office.  If you need to keep the original document for any reason, present the original to us and we will make the copy for our files. When a student reaches six absences per semester, the parent will receive written notification of absences. After reaching the maximum number of allowable absences in the semester, parent(s) will be notified by letter of the student’s attendance record and the possible consequences for his/her absences. 

What if I know in advance that my child will be out of school?
We have a pre-arranged absence form available in the attendance office. This form is only needed if your student is missing three or more days, and should be filled out in advance of your student's anticipated absence from school.  Please note that while we appreciate the notification prior to their absence, these do still count against them in accordance with the state law requiring students attend 90% of the days each class is offered. Questions regarding loss of credit should be directed to your student's administrator.

If the school nurse sends my student home is it an absence?
Yes, it is.  However, the school nurse rarely “sends” a student home ill.  The nurse will always notify a parent in the event a student becomes sick at school. And, if the nurse determines the student to be running a fever or has become contagious, she will request to have the student picked up.  But, whether the nurse sends your student home or you simply decide it's in the best interest of your child, the child must see the nurse prior to leaving school under a sick reason and you are still required to sign your student out and provide a written excuse for the absence. Please encourage your student to visit the clinic for a sick assessment, prior to requesting pick up from parent.

What if my student is out for an extended illness or extenuating circumstances?
You may “Appeal” the absences for medical reasons or certain extenuating circumstances. You will need original medical notes for back-up. The Appeals Process is explained in the LCISD Secondary Student Handbook; and, the form to complete is located in our Attendance Office.

Can I send in someone other than myself to pick up my student?
We will not release students to anyone other than those listed on the Emergency Contact card. We do not accept phone calls requesting us to do so.  If you are unsure who is on your list, please feel free to call us. If you want to update the list, you may do so by logging into your Parent Portal in Skyward.  Any special situations need to be arranged in advance.

How late can I pick up my student?
We will only call students out of class before 4:00 pm. The afternoons get very busy, and many times your students are outside or in other areas where they are not easily notified. 

*We WILL NOT allow a student to be signed out after 4:00pm.