Dear Parents,

Monday August 21st is the first day of SCHOOL ! 

Did you know that regular school attendance is critical for your child's success in school?  Let's start off the 2023 school year strong!  Please read the information below carefully and begin to make a plan with your family.  

Chronic Absenteeism: What is it, and why does it matter?  One of the new elements that the Virginia Department of Education is using to determine whether a school should be accredited is the percent of children in the school who miss 10% or more of the enrolled school year. For most students, who attend the same school for the entire school year, this would mean missing 18 days for any reason, to include family trips, illness, suspension, or truancy. 

While 18 days sounds like a lot, it means that a student who misses as few as two days a month is considered chronically absent.

Why is chronic absenteeism a problem? In addition to being a factor in school accreditation, as well as part of the School Quality Profile, missing more than 10% of the school year has been associated with significant problems for the children. For children as young as kindergarten and first grade age, it is associated with failure to read and do math on grade level in third grade. By middle and high school it is a leading warning sign that the student will fail to graduate with peers, or will drop out entirely. When many students are absent throughout the year, it slows down the rate of instruction for all students.

All students will likely be sick at some time during the year, and it is important to keep your child home at these times, but to have children attend at all other times. How can you help? Avoid vacations that require your child to miss school. Set a regular bedtime and morning routine, with clothes and needed materials laid out the night before, so your child does not miss the bus or arrive late at school. Make sure younger children get 9 to 11 hours of sleep a night. For older children, 8 to 9 hours of sleep are needed, as well as support to establish good nighttime routines. Pediatricians recommend a “screens down” time an hour before bedtime, when youth have no access to TV, cell phones, computers, or video games. It is a great time for reading. Be a model of these habits in your family. The benefits of a good night’s sleep and regular attendance are gifts that will help your child throughout their lifetime.

Let's work together this school year to ensure your child is present at school and learning!  Attend Today!  Achieve Tomorrow!

Fondly, 

Mirnaly Vega

Proud Principal