Attendance

Parents/Legal Guardians need to submit attendance reasons through Skyward Family Access instead of calling the school. Attendance can be entered on that day (illness) or for future events (doctor’s appointment). Absences can be recorded for all day, late arrival or early dismissal. Please click here to follow the directions to enter the absence via Skyward.

Report an attendance issue via Skyward or reach the Attendance Office through the automated phone line.

Doctor notes may be e-mailed to Karen Rallo – krallo@phm.k12.in.us – or Karissa Buckwheat – kbuckwheat@phm.k12.in.us or pennattendance@phm.k12.in.us.

To report your student absence via telephone, please use the user prompts below:

  • Parents or legal guardians of a Penn student, call 574-258-9501 to report absences.
  • When calling, please provide the student’s full name. The last name must be spelled out. Include the student’s ID number, the reason for absence or dismissal, and a contact phone number.

Please listen carefully to the three different Attendance prompts. They are as follows:

  • To report an early dismissal for TODAY, press 1. This would include, for example, an appointment, family emergency, etc., that will take place during the current school day. Include a time for the early dismissal, and the reason.
  • To report a dismissal/absence for a FUTURE DATE, press 2. This includes an appointment, college visit, family event such as a vacation (which may need approval by a Dean). Please include a date, time and reason for the absence/early dismissal. A month’s notice in advance is preferred. In the case of a series of appointments, at a particular time and day repeated throughout the school year, contact Attendance Secretary Karen Rallo – krallo@phm.k12.in.us or call 574-254-2828 – to set up a schedule.
  • To report an ILLNESS TODAY or a LATE ARRIVAL TODAY, press 3. Please provide a short comment regarding the illness, i.e. the flu, cold, etc. In the case of a long-term illness, in addition to contacting the attendance office, please contact the student’s counselor and nurse. For reporting a late arrival, please state the reason and approximate time of arrival.
  • If a student is absent for 10 (or more) consecutive school days, please contact Attendance Secretaries Karen Rallo  or Karisa Buckwheat. Per Indiana state policy, a doctor’s note is required for a medical absence of 10 days or more.
  • To question an unconfirmed absence, please e-mail the student’s teacher. Staff Directory.

Early dismissal

Students who get an early dismissal from a Parent/Legal Guardian should check out and leave through Door C. 
 
Parents who plan to pick up their students early can do so at Door C until 2:40 p.m.
 
Students returning from an appointment or who arrive after 8:25 a.m. must check in at Door A with their school ID.
 
Early dismissals need to be reported in Skyward, but may also be called in. It is requested that early dismissals be reported at least two hours in advance.
 
Dismissal passes will not be issued to allow a student visit the athletic trainer during school hours. Appointments have to be scheduled in advance with the Athletic Training Department.
 
Notes/documentation needed by Penn High School for Attendance:
 
Notes from a doctor, dentist, counselor, etc. can either be dropped off at Door A or C during school hours OR may be emailed at any time to Pennattendance@phm.k12.in.org.
 
Necessary details will be recorded in the student’s attendance record and, if appropriate, passed on to the nurse in the Health Office.
Notes from Parents in order to dismiss a student out of PHS are NOT accepted. Use the Auto Attendance line or Skyward Guardian Entry. A two-hour advance notice for a dismissal is appreciated.
 
Temporary Guardianship: When a parent or guardian will be leaving their student with another adult (Grandmother, Uncle, friend, etc.) while out of town for a period of time Temporary Guardianship paperwork must be filed out. Contact Penn’s Student Services in advance of the time away. This information will be shared with the school’s nurse and attendance in order to better serve your student while the legal parent/guardian is away.
 
To discuss attendance guidelines, call Karen Rallo at 574-254-2828 OR Karisa Buckwheat at 574-258-9500 ext. 20541.
 
In addition, guardians of Penn students who attend the Elkhart Area Career Center are responsible to report their student’s attendance issues directly to the EACC. Contact Trisha Malone, attendance secretary, 574-262-5650 or tmalone@elkhart.k12.in.us.
 
In addition, EACC offers an email address: Email: Attendance@elkhart.k12.in.us

Click here for information regarding two-hour delays.