Attendance:  A Key to Your Student's Success

Schools are responsible for teaching your children.  But schools can't do their job if your child is absent.  Learning builds day by day.  A child who misses a day of school misses a day of learning. Research shows that children who are in school most of the time do better on state tests.  Studies also show that students who are absent more often score lower on state tests.  (Our third, fourth, and fifth graders will take state assessments in the spring.  Being late for school hurts a child's learning too.  A student who is 10 minutes late every day will miss 30 hours of instruction during the year. Children can copy notes or make up an assignment, but they can never get back what's most important:  the discussions, the questions, the explanations and the thinking that makes learning come alive.  Your child's' success in school depends on having a solid educational background - one that can only be gained through regular school attendance.      

How you can help:

• Avoid scheduling family trips or doctor/dentist appointments during school hours.  If this is impossible, try to schedule for the last appointment in the day and have your child attend as much of the entire day as possible.
• Talk with your child about the importance of attending school regularly.
• Make sure your child stays healthy by eating nutritious food and getting enough sleep and exercise.
• Don't accept excuses for why your child "must" miss or be late for school.
• Support school rules for attendance     (Source: The Parents Institute)   

TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More