At Pioneer ... Attendance Matters!

This is one of the most important messages we will send parents this year. Thank you for reviewing it carefully and committing to have your child in class and on-time EVERY day possible.

At the bottom of this message, you will see information about the attendance pledge cards that will be sent home with students today. We encourage families to complete and return them so their child can be eligible for our weekly attendance prize!

The research is clear ... students who attend school regularly are able to learn more, have fewer discipline problems, develop better study habits and often are more successful than students who do not.

We understand that juggling various responsibilities and family commitments can be challenging, but we want to emphasize the critical role regular attendance plays in your child's education and future success. Your child's presence at school is more than just a routine; it significantly impacts their learning and development. Regular attendance at elementary school ...

1. Improves Academic Performance: Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between consistent school attendance and improved academic performance. Children who attend school regularly are more likely to master essential skills, earn better grades, and perform well on standardized tests.

2. Enhances Social Skills: School is not just about academics; it's also a place for social growth. Consistent attendance allows your child to build essential social skills, make friends, and develop healthy relationships with peers and teachers.

3. Boosts Confidence and Self-esteem: Success breeds confidence. When children attend school regularly and experience the satisfaction of mastering new concepts, it boosts their self-esteem and belief in their abilities.

4. Fosters a Love for Learning: Regular attendance helps children engage in the learning process. It allows them to follow a curriculum consistently, which can foster a love for learning and curiosity about the world around them.

5. Reduces the Risk of Falling Behind: Missing school days can result in gaps in your child's knowledge and skills. These gaps can make it harder for them to keep up with the curriculum, leading to frustration and potential academic struggles.

6. Prepares Them for the Future: Elementary school attendance sets the foundation for lifelong learning. The habits and discipline developed during these early years are invaluable for future academic pursuits and career success.

We understand that occasional absences may be necessary due to illness, time-sensitive appointments, or family situations/emergencies. However, we encourage you to prioritize regular attendance as much as possible. Your child's education is an investment in their future, and we are here to support their growth and development every step of the way.

If you ever encounter challenges that affect your child's attendance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to work collaboratively with you to ensure your child receives the best possible education. It is always better to do so proactively rather than after your child has been chronically absent.

You can be sure by logging into PowerSchool ...

On a Computer

• Parent Sign In (westada.org)
  
• Check the absences/tardies listed on the homepage or click "Attendance History"

On the App

• Login and scroll down to attendance

Note: Absences are recorded for each half of the day AM/PM. To get the accurate number of full-day absences, add them together and divide by two.

West Ada Attendance Policy & Handbook

• Attendance Policy
• Handbook (See Attendance)

Idaho Attendance Laws

• 33-02 - Compulsory Attendance
• 33-206 - Habitual Truancy
• 33-207 - Proceedings Against Parents/Guardians

Every minute counts at school. Some students with few (if any) absences, still can miss a lot of school by arriving late or getting checked out early on a regular basis. These instances add up and should be avoided whenever possible ...

Occasionally you cannot avoid having to pick your child up early from school. In such instances, please be aware ...

You must come to the front desk with identification to check your child out.

• We do not call students down before you arrive. Please factor this into your timing.
• Students will only be released to household or emergency contacts listed in PowerSchool unless arrangements are made in advance and confirmed in writing by a parent/guardian.
• We will not release students without confirming government-issued identification.

Be aware of times that we will not call students to the office.

• Recess & Lunch: To allow our recess duties to focus on student management, we will not call out to duties to try to locate students during recess (10:50 - 11:05, 2:40 - 2:55, or lunch recess times which vary by grade ... see the bell schedule on the school website).
• Within 10 minutes of the End of the Day: We will not call students down after 3:45pm.

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.
• Try to schedule non-urgent appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session.
• If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to the teacher, school counselor and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
• If your child must stay home due to illness, try to continue learning at home by reading, writing, and/or accessing online learning resources (check-in with the teacher if it is an extended absence).

Use these guidelines to determine if you should keep a child home from school due to illness. If these or some more complex health issue do not apply, please send your child to school.

• Fever greater than 100.0 degrees: A fever lets us know that our body is fighting something off. We are contagious during this time and need rest. Students should be fever free for at least 24 hours, without fever-reducing medication, before returning to school.
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea: Students should stay home for 24 hours to make sure they can keep food/liquids down.
• Sore throat with a fever greater than 100.0 degrees: Students should stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. If they are diagnosed with Strep throat, then they should stay home until they have been on the antibiotics for 24 hours.
• New onset persistent cough: Students should stay home if they have a new onset persistent cough or they are coughing so much it keeps them from participating in class or disrupts their classmates. Student may return when their cough has significantly improved.

Of course, there are always exceptions. Please contact our school nurse with any questions.

It happens. Occasional illness, urgent appointments, or family situations arise. If your child needs to miss or be late to school, please notify the school by either ...

E-mailing the teacher and our attendance secretary (ramsey.liz@westada.org)

OR

Calling the office at 208-855-4100

You are welcome to leave a message before or after-hours.

Please include the date(s) and reason for the absence. It is important the office is in the loop so we can record attendance accurately and save you from a follow-up phone call. Teachers get a lot of e-mails which may not always make it to the office in a timely manner.

If you are planning a trip or other extended absence, contact the office as early as possible so we can help coordinate with the teacher.

To help promote consistent attendance, we will be sending home attendance pledge cards with our students. We encourage families to complete this pledge together and return it to your classroom teacher.

The pledge is not to imply your child will never miss a day due to illness or family situations. Nor should families feel like the goal is "Perfect Attendance or BUST." It is simply a way to involve students in committing to be at school whenever possible. The pledge is completely voluntary but we encourage all families to use it as a tool to help reinforce the important habit of regular school attendance.

As an incentive and public celebration, students who return a completed pledge AND have perfect attendance* for any given week will be entered into that week's drawing for an attendance prize!

*For the purposes of the weekly prizes, we will disregard missed school that is the result of recurring pre-arranged appointments (such as therapy, etc). Please do not send you child to school ill just so they can qualify for a weekly prize. There will always be another opportunity the next week!

Website: www.westada.org/o/pioneer
Location: 13255 West McMillan Road, Boise, ID, USA
Phone: (208)855-4100
Facebook: facebook.com/pioneerpumas