Attendance 101: A parent’s guide to Frequently Asked Questions
When to keep student home:
Fever of 101 or above (below that, our nurse can check and kiddo should be fine)
Vomiting or diarrhea
If a doctor has given you instructions not to send them to school. (Bring that note in!)
When NOT to keep your kiddo home: Below are some common reasons parents have kept their children home, read on for some strategies to avoid these common reasons students miss school unnecessarily
Lice
Because they don’t “feel good”. It is not uncommon for students to say they do not feel good or
their stomach hurts in order to stay home. If your student is stating this and you see no signs of illness, take them to school. You can always call the nurse to check on them.
Because they are tired or throwing a fit- If you struggle getting them up, come talk to
me! I can help with resources and plans, incentives and consequences to make
your mornings easier. J
Because they are hard to get out of bed or we are running late* (see routines below)
Because we don’t have a car or ride (all students are either within walking distance or eligible for
bussing. If there is an issue with either of these please call and ask to speak to the counselor or social worker for assistance)
Because they have a doctors appt. (Unless there is a surgery, or serious medical issue,
doc appointments should take no more than 1 hour- that does not constitute missing the whole school day, make sure they return to school!)
Because they are being bullied or don’t like the class. (If this is the case, come talk to the
Teacher, principal, or school counselor. We want your kiddo here and happy!
Because they have allergies or asthma. In general, if a student has asthma or allergies, the nurse
should have medications or inhalers at school, an asthma action plan or other plan of care from your doctor, and a release of information. These conditions should not be causing chronic absenteeism. If you have questions, please speak to the school nurse.
We travel a lot, what about absences? Come request an extended absence request form
before you leave. We will make sure to alert teachers and help get the homework so your kiddo doesn’t miss too much and fall behind.
How do I get my kiddo to school on time and make mornings less stressful???
Short answer? Routines.
Set a time the night before to get your child’s backpack, homework, clothes,
shoes and jacket ready for the next day to keep organized and easy mornings. Designate a spot and keep everything you need to get out the door there. Start doing that for yourself too! Get your clothes out and everything you need for the next day ready and in the morning, sit back and enjoy your coffee. Have kiddos go to bed early. When kiddos are tired, they drag their feet.
Children aged 6-13 (and some adults) need 9-11 hours of sleep a night! Sleeplessness can cause grogginess, irritability, trouble focusing, and inability to sit still. Sound familiar? Your kiddo may need more sleep. Between 7-8:30 are good bedtimes for kiddos to get enough sleep and wake up at 6-7 in the morning.
Start a bedtime routine- get PJs on, brush your teeth, read a book, and into bed.
Set limits on electronics and do not leave them in your child’s room. Children cannot regulate their use and will often stay up much too late. Remove all electronics and store elsewhere prior to bedtime. Some parents need to hide them or lock them up. If you are struggling with electronic usage with your student, request to speak with the counselor or social worker J
Wake up earlier. Set the alarm and give your kiddo one. Start a routine. Wake
up, get dressed, wash face, brush hair and teeth, eat breakfast, grab backpack and lunch, get out the door. This process should take between 30 mins to an hour. School starts at 7:55 and don’t forget traffic. Your child should wake up no later than 6:30.
Remember it’s going to be hard before it’s easy. Everyone will be grumpy and
annoyed, but it will get better. And it will make things so much easier in the long run!!!!
Sample evening schedule:
5:30-6:00- Homework time- if no homework, read a book or practice writing (perfect for the kitchen table while dinner is being made)
6:00-6:30- Dinner and dishes
6:30-7:30- Family time! (Watch a show, hang out, laugh)
7:30-8:00- Clean up and prep for tomorrow- pick out clothes, get homework in backpack, make lunch, etc. (If multiple kids, rotate clean up with taking showers)
8:00-8:30- Shower and PJs, extra points for a bedtime story! Even older kids will love reading chapter books!!! Harry Potter anyone?
Lights out before 9- Parents have a time to chill and Netflix!!! Yay!
Sample morning schedule:
6:30-7:00- Up and dressed, wash face, brush teeth, brush hair. (Parents can do the same!)
7:00-7:25- Breakfast, if you eat at home, or perhaps have kids clean up or do a chore to help
7:30- Get your stuff and out the door! Traffic is real!
Why is attendance so important?
Research shows that students with attendance issues have big problems later in life- problems like not finishing school, not getting good jobs, and there is a link between school attendance issues and legal issues like substance abuse later in life. L Attendance is a better predictor of whether a student will graduate high school than test scores.
Students who miss class struggle catching up. Every day they are missing valuable information. Missing class now means more meetings with schools later as they try to catch your child up.
Students need to miss less than 9 days per entire school year, which comes out to less than one absence a month. A student who misses just 2 days a month will end up missing 18 days of school and will be considered chronically absent and in need of intervention. All students missing 9 or more days will be considered in need of intervention from the school, whether the absences are excused or not.
If you, your family, or student, are having any issues that are affecting attendance, act early and reach out for help from the school counselor, social worker, or the district attendance social worker assigned to our school. We are here to help and support your student and family and will be glad to assist with any problems you may be having.
Attendance incentives happen. Loma Heights classrooms can earn a Bubble Party & Pizza Party when 95% of students are there each week and they earn stars! J We appreciate you and want to work together for the success of every child. Thanks for being an awesome parent!
