Help your child succeed in school: Build the habit of good attendance early.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Starting in preschool and kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
• Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up, missed bus, weather delayed days.
• Try to schedule non-urgent medical appointments and extended trips when school is not in session.
• If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to your child’s teacher or our school counselor for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
• If you are unsure if your child is too ill to come to school, call the school office for advice.
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Start building this habit right away, so your child learns that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually, good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and college.
