Message from Principal Collins
Hello Evergreen Families,
This week our scholars that did not take the iReady math or reading test last week, had the opportunity to do make-up testing this week. Our athletes started their events, thank you for coming out and cheering them on. We are in the last few days of September, next week we are entering into October. We have been working hard academically the time is flying by. We have been in school for almost a month most of us have settled into a routine during the week. Remember to get plenty of rest, make sure to eat healthy, get exercise and take timeout from electronics.
During my weekly talk with the scholars I went over some of our expectations. It would be great if you asked them what some of our expectation are at Evergreen. We have a no cell phone policy. Most of our scholars are doing a great job of turning off their cell phones and putting them in their backpacks until the end of the day. We talked a bit about being safe in the hallways. Lately students are starting to run in the hallways, bumping into each other and causing other students to fall. Scholars know we need to be responsible by walking not running and kind by making sure not to bump into our peers in the hallway.
We are nearing the end of Attendance Awareness Month. One of our goals this year is to provide extraordinary student experiences by making student attendance a priority. Across Washington and the country, student chronic absenteeism is on the rise. What is Chronic Absenteeism?
Chronic absenteeism means missing 10 percent or more of the total enrolled days during the school year for any reason. This works out to approximately 2 days per month. It includes excused, unexcused, out-of-school suspensions, and in-school suspensions that last more than one-half of the school day.
Currently, Evergreen Middle School has an attendance rate of 90.5%. We believe we can do better for our students to be successful in school and beyond.
Why Does Attendance Matter?
- Research demonstrates a strong connection between student attendance and academic performance
- Regular attendance allows students to establish and nurture relationships
- Students who get to school each day have a better chance of learning and succeeding
- Research shows that students who miss two days of school per month can struggle with reading and this may lead to social-emotional stress
- When your student misses’ school they also lose valuable learning time, can fall behind in their school work and as a result, it’s difficult to catch up
- Students chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade
- By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at-risk for dropping out of school
- By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores
We understand some absences are unavoidable due to illness or family emergencies but we also know that students who miss too much school, even occasionally, can fall behind academically or socially.
Tips to Support Families
Here are a few helpful tips to help support regular, on-time attendance:
- Make sure your student is getting enough sleep
- Limit the use of electronic devices in the bedroom
- Set out clothes and backpacks the night before so your student is ready to go in the morning
- Establish a set morning routine to support getting out the door on time
- Only keep your student home if they are 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 student is experiencing anxiety about school, let us know so we can offer additional support to them
- Talk to your student’s teacher, counselor or other parents in the community about what has worked for them to motivate their students to attend school
- Avoid scheduling vacations and doctor’s appointments when school is in session
- Have backup plan for unexpected situations
Our staff will be working on incentives for students and classrooms to encourage and celebrate good and improved student attendance.
If you need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student's counselor or any administrator so we can create a plan to better support your student. We believe that regular attendance is a key factor in your student’s academic progress and overall growth. Let’s continue to work together to emphasize to our students when they show up, students can thrive!
At Evergreen, we believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for a child’s success. We encourage open communication and involvement from parents/guardians. Your support plays a crucial role in creating a nurturing and stimulating environment for our students. We are thrilled to embark on this journey with each and every one of you. Together, we can make this an incredible year for our students!
Thank you for being a part of the Grizzly family. We are going to have a fantastic year.
In Partnership,
Mrs. Collins
Principal Evergreen Middle School
253 945 5100
