Attendance Matters
September is National Attendance Month.
“Throughout the country, we see a growing consensus that improving student attendance is an essential, cost-effective strategy for ensuring student success and reducing achievement gaps. Nationwide, as many as one out of seven students are chronically absent. When students are chronically absent, they are missing on average two or more days a month, or 10 percent or more of school days over the academic year. Chronic absence is a sign that students and families may be experiencing barriers to getting to school or are disengaged because their school experience makes them feel unsafe and unsupported. Attendance reflects whether what happens in school encourages students to show up every day or exacerbates the negative impact of challenges experienced in the community or at home.”
Throughout September Circle Middle School will be promoting that good attendance leads to good things.
Here are key ideas:
Good attendance contributes to students doing well in school and eventually in the workplace.
Students are at risk academically if they are chronically absent (missing just two days a month or 10 percent of the school year).
Prevent absences whenever possible.
Students are more likely to attend school if they feel safe (emotionally + physically), connected, supported, and believe they can learn and achieve.
Relationship building is fundamental to any strategy for improving student attendance.
Chronic absence is a problem we can solve when the whole community collaborates with families and schools.
The key to success is to avoid laying blame and taking a proactive, positive, data driven, problem-solving approach.
Families, educators and community partners need to monitor how many days a student misses school.
Reducing chronic absence helps create more equitable academic outcomes, especially for children who live in poverty, experience discrimination and have disabilities.
States can lead the way and encourage districts and schools to take action to improve student attendance.
Quick links for more information:
https://www.attendanceworks.org/
Counselor Cross
Thank you to all of the warm welcomes I have received from students and adults alike so far. I'm excited to be at CMS this year and am looking forward to an amazing school year!
Gold Team (7th-grade)
Observations from the 7th-grade teaching team after the first week of school:
Lots of smiles and small fist pumps as more and more lockers are successfully opened on the first try.
Students lending a helping hand when they see other students in need.
Fewer 7th graders in the hallways after the tardy bell rings.
Students being gently pushed out of their comfort zones by meeting and interacting with new people.
Multiple sore muscles from sports practices and physical education.
This is a fantastic group of young people.
Chromebook checkout has begun. For students whose parents/guardians have completed the permission slip allowing students to take them home, they should have both a Chromebook and a charger. A conversation that you should have is 1. Where is the best place to charge it? Food for thought--if the student’s bedroom is the agreed up charging location, he/she MIGHT be tempted to use it in the middle of the night instead of catching some zzzzzz’s. 2. How is your 7th grader going to remember to grab it in the morning?
Training is always a continuous process. The 7th-grade team’s focus--walking in the hallway with a purpose, putting papers in the correct “spot” in their binders, and using the agenda as a tool to know what homework is assigned and/or what was learned in each class. Google calendar will also be a tool that’s used for some as soon as everyone has their Chromebooks.
How can you help? With the addition of sports practices after school, other outside of school activities, and the possible increase in homework, students may need some help figuring out a specific time and location they can do their homework.
Today’s Tip: Here are some alternative ideas to the “How was your day?” question.
“What was the funniest thing that happened today?”
“What challenged you today?”
“If one of your classmates could be the teacher for the day who would you want it to be? Why?”
If school were a ride at the fair, which ride would it be? Why?
Who made you smile today?
What new fact did you learn today?
Does your teacher remind you of anyone you know? How?
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to work with your child this year.
Blue Team (8th-grade)
Upcoming Dates
Sept 2nd- No School, Labor Day
Sept 11th- CMS Band to State Fair
Sept 11th- 8th-grade to State Fair
Sept 16th- Parent/Teacher Conferences by Invitation only
Sept 17th 6:30 pm Middle School 101; 7 pm Site Council
Sept 23rd- No School, Staff Development
Sept 24th- Ceramics Class Field Trip to Ulrich and Wichita Art Museum
Oct 11th- No School, Staff Development
Fall Athletics
Aug 26th- Cheer Tryouts begin
Aug 30th- 3:30 pm Football Scrimmage At CHS
Aug 31st- 9 am CMS Football optional practices
Oct 2nd- Fall Sports Pictures
As always, all games are listed in our District calendar or check out our new website and app to keep up with our Fall Sports at https://www.usd375.org/
Lunch Accounts
You can also come in and pay in the office anytime or send money to school with your student.
Box Tops
No more clipping Box Tops! Scan your receipt and earn money for our school. For more information, go to the Box Tops website: https://www.boxtops4education.com/.
All proceeds from Box Tops help to purchase books for our library.
