Attendance Office

I called the attendance office Tuesday morning from our plane as we left Boston. I needed to notify the school Christopher would be out.

What a difference middle school is.

In elementary school, we told his teacher before he would be out for a trip and we would get the homework prior to his missing school. And, the teacher would be thrilled about the adventure. No worries about notes, excuses, absences.

When I called the school the day he would be out (no calls prior to the day), the call went as follows:

Me: My son will not be in school today.

Attendance Office Guy: Grade?

Me: Sixth

Attendance Office Guy: Team?

Me: Y, Rockets

Attendance Office Guy: Name?

Me: Christopher Petri-Adams

Attendance Office Guy: Petri- Adams?

Me: Yes

Attendance Office Guy: I have it marked down that Christopher Petri-Adams won't be in school today.

Quite an official call. Tuesday evening, we received a call at home from NEISD reminding us to bring a note because our child missed one or more periods.

Wednesday a.m. Christopher brought his note to school, which I wrote with the basics -- he missed school January 20, 2009, due to personal reasons. The end.

He went to the attendance office, got his slip, had each teacher sign and he was done.

Just the facts. Get back to class.