August 23rd
Newsletter
Counselor Corner
Winter is coming!
Hello Athey Creek Families! Winter is just around the corner so please let us know if your child is in need of a warm coat. If you are in need of other items please reach out as well! We have plenty of school supplies, backpacks, new clothing and other community resources that we can connect you with.
September is Attendance Awareness Month
Each student adds a unique presence to the learning community, and the learning journey is richer and deeper when classroom peers learn together. Students with regular attendance are much more likely to do well in school and beyond.
1. Attendance and Success: Good attendance is closely linked to doing well in school. When students are in school every day, they have more opportunities to learn and grow. On the flip side, if students are often absent, it's harder for them to stay on track.
A. Elementary: Students who attend regularly in grades K-3 are more likely to read on grade level.
B. Middle School: By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
C. High School: By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
2. Absences Add Up: Every day of school counts towards your child's journey of growth and discovery. Chronic absence is defined as 18 days a year—or just 2 days a month – even if those absences are excused! Missing this much school in kindergarten can lower achievement in 1st grade and, for some students, through 5th grade.
3. Building Confidence: Being present when information is delivered is critical. When your child misses one day or one lesson, that means when they return to school, they may have missed something critical to their understanding of the next several days of instruction. Consistently attending school helps students stay on track and feel confident in their progress. When students are present and they're actively engaged in their learning journey, this boosts their motivation and eagerness to return to school each day.
4. Addressing Barriers: It's important to figure out what's keeping your child away from school and address it as soon as possible. Keep in mind complaints of a stomachache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home. Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, dealing with bullying or facing some other difficulty. Whether it's transportation issues, health problems, or something else, contact the school to support and help find solutions that can make a big difference in your child's attendance and success.
Please reach out to your student's counselor if there is anything we can do to help support!
Alisa Doll
503-673-4709
Jess Mather
503-673-7408
8th Grade Panama Trip - June 2025
This is a reminder about our annual travel program here for our 8th graders at ACMS. There is time to sign-up if you're interested. The price will go up October 1st.
Currently, we have 15 students signed up and we’d love to have a few more :).
This link will send you to the information page about the trip, run through the company EF (Education First). You’ll be able to see the itinerary and all the activities that we have planned, as well as logistics like the requested travel dates and prices.
The link is here: www.eftours.com/2730452RZ
Questions??!! E-mail Mr. Percival or come visit him on Back-To-School Night :)
