We are in our 4th week of school and the academic year is in full swing. Students are learning, making new friendships, and settling into their new grades. I want to take a moment to talk about attendance. September is Attendance Awareness Month and now is the time to set the best habits surrounding attendance. According to research, attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work. Absences add up and impact all students.
Did you know?
- Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
- Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
- Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.
- Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
- Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up
There are some simple steps you can take to help build positive attendance in school:
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before
- Don’t let your child stay home unless he/she is truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make your student feel comfortable and excited about learning.
- Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
Everyone here at PAC takes the attendance of our students very seriously. When students miss school, we will be in touch, asking why, checking on our students and you, their families. As educators, we see the positive impact of daily attendance on our students, their confidence, and their achievement. We teach every day and students should be in school every day. We are here to support you and your student, build relationships, make learning fun, and build a sense of community and belonging. We value the time and energy you all put into your children and we are investing in them as well. We love every single one of our students and we would love for them to be in school with us every day! Attendance Counts!
Attend Today Achieve Tomorrow!
Sara Sutera
Principal
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