Mustang Minute

T.E.A.M.

Together Everyone Achieves More

https://il02218195.schoolwires.net/Page/4407

Upcoming Dates

September

9/16- Gurnee Chipotle Restaurant Fundraiser

9/17- 1st-3rd Grade Parent Night @ 6PM

9/19- 4th/5th Grade Parent Night @ 6PM

9/25- Parent University- HELP ME! Understanding Executive Functioning - Parent Strategies for Success @ 6PM

9/26- EPIC General Assembly Meeting @ 6PM

9/30- APEX Fundraiser

October

10/1- APEX/EPIC Fundraiser Begins

10/2- Early Release @ 1:00

10/4 and 10/5- EPIC Resale @ MMS

10/9- Picture Retake Day

10/14- No School- Inservice Day

10/14- EPIC Family Fall Gathering @ Patch 22

10/15- Parent University- Schoology 101 The Ins and Outs of Parent Access @ 6PM

10/24- Portillo's Fundraiser

10/31- Halloween Celebrations

November

11/5- No School- Election Day, EPIC Feed My Starving Children

11/6- Early Release @ 1:00

11/11-11/15- Fall Book Fair

11/14-15- Parent Teacher Conferences

Virtual Backpack- Click HERE

New Items

Nothing New

Newsletter Topics

Parent Nights Next Week (NEW)
Attendance Counts (NEW)
EPIC Fundraiser- APEX (NEW)
Substitutes Needed (NEW)
Millburn Parent Universities
Pumpkin Fundraising Sale (NEW)
EPIC News

Parent Nights Next Week

We invite families to attend Parent Night next week. Parent Night is a way to hear about new things going on in our school and find out what your child will experience in their classrooms this year. Because we have such a large community in our building, we need to separate this into two nights:

9/17- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade

9/19- 4th and 5th Grade

Each night starts at 6:00PM. Presentations will begin right at 6:00, so please come 10-15 minutes ahead of time so you are ready right at 6:00. Parent Night typically lasts about an hour. This is an in-person event. There will not be a Zoom option. Please park in either the front or back parking lots. Doors will be open starting at 5:45.

We understand that you might have multiple students at the same time. Do you best to divide an conquer. If you are unable to make the event, just try to connect with the teacher ahead of time.

Attendance Counts

In reviewing data on attendance over the last three years, the administration of Millburn District 24 found that Chronic Absences have increased year to year. Chronic Absence means absences that total 10% or more of school days of the most recent academic school year, including absences with and without valid cause (excused AND unexcused). This equates to 17 or more school days of absence.

Research supports that students with poor attendance patterns have limited success in school. The long-term impact of poor attendance includes decreased academic achievement, increased school disciplinary actions, increased interaction with the juvenile justice system, and a higher probability of high school dropout. Poor attendance often starts at the primary level. For these reasons, we want to inform families about the importance of daily attendance and work collaboratively to follow a system of supported action.

Chronic Absenteeism also has an impact on school ratings. In Illinois, we are given a score based on student attendance that determines our final designation on the state report card. There are 8 areas that are reviewed when determining a school’s rating. One of these is Chronic Absenteeism which counts for 20% (20 points) of our overall rating. For reference, the the 2022-23 school year our district earned 13% (13 points). This negatively impacted our score.

What is an excused absence?

According to 105 ILCS 5/26-2a of the Illinois School Code, a valid reason for a student's absence from school is considered an excused absence:

Illness: Includes mental or behavioral health, and students can be excused for up to five days per school year for mental or behavioral health
Religious holiday: Students may be excused from classes, exams, or assignments on a particular day or time
Death in the immediate family: Or family emergency
Other situations beyond the student's control: As determined by the district's board of education
Circumstances that cause reasonable concern: For the student's mental, emotional, or physical health or safety, as determined by the parent or guardian

What is an unexcused absence?

Returning to school after three consecutive absences without a valid doctor's note
Missing the bus
Oversleeping or alarm problems
Transportation issues
Vacation of more than 5 cumulative days in a school year
More than 9 cumulative days of illness without a doctor’s note – (each day of absence past 9 will require a doctor’s note or the absence will not be excused)
Other reasons that do not fit the excused category

Below will be our actions steps we will be implementing this year in regards to attendance.

Millburn Parent University

PARENT CONNECTIONS through a Parent University Series

We have already had opportunities for parents to connect with staff at the start of the school year, and an opportunity this week for parents to connect with other parents. It is important for our community to connect with each other in various ways to create a support network as we bring up our kids toward adulthood. The PARENT U series is another opportunity to connect throughout the year! Please consider taking part in as many of these opportunities as possible! Save the dates and times in this LINK, and watch for more details as the year progresses.