Regular attendance is required by all students in New Jersey public schools as a result of well-established, long-standing state policy. As we know that excessive lateness to school and/or absences can negatively impact both academic performance and overall student experience, our goal is to maximize the day-to-day attendance of our students at Chatham Middle School. The educational process requires regular continuity of instruction, classroom participation, learning experiences, and study in order to reach the goal of maximum educational benefits for each individual student.

Absence Verification

Parents/guardians should notify the school via the Genesis Parent Portal on Genesis before 7:30 AM on the morning of the student’s absence. The reason for absence must always be input into the attendance notification. Please be advised that parents/guardians who notify the school after 7:55 AM may still receive a notification alerting them that their child was marked absent by his/her Block 1 teacher. The Parent Portal should be utilized to:

• Report an absence or late arrival

• Indicate the student will be leaving school early, noting the departure time

• Record multiple days of absence, current or future

Note: When using the Genesis Parent Portal for attendance, there is no need to call the school. Should you be unable to log on to the Parent Portal, you may call 973-457-2506 to report a student’s absence or late arrival. If you would like to share information with our school nurse, please don’t use the Portal; contact her directly.

The CMS attendance office can be reached at: