Attendance really does matter! When students miss school, they miss a learning opportunity. Even the best teacher in the world cannot provide quality learning opportunities if the student is absent.
Due to the high correlation between attendance and student achievement, school districts must report to the state their daily average attendance. The National Center for Educational Statistics reports that a recent study found absenteeism in kindergarten was associated with negative outcomes in first grade that included lower achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge.
Therefore, it is important to know that the more school your child misses the more challenging it will be for him/her to demonstrate proficiency in the learning standards. If we establish a pattern of letting our children stay home, they will rapidly fall behind their peers. The longer a child is absent from school, the more frustrated they become as they have missed significant instruction and practice.
Effects of missed school days accumulate very quickly, and students fall behind as their daily schedule involves extensive learning opportunities that can’t always be duplicated.
Poor attendance also has long-term outcomes with serious implications on graduation rates. These differences in absentee rates were observed as early as kindergarten, and students who eventually dropped out of high school missed significantly more days of school in first grade than their peers who graduated.
As students are required to demonstrate their proficiency on national and state standards, it is even more critical that they be in school. Students are not going to slip by, but have to demonstrate they have met the specific skills/standards in each content area before moving on. Students are being educated in an era that involves high expectations and accountability. That accountability applies to educators and parents alike.
As noted above, having the student in school is one of the greatest factors for determining his/her success in school. Every day does count! We are shaping the mindset that students have towards school. Please establish the expectation that they be in school daily and on time.
Approximately 85 students and family members attended the PTO’s Family Skate Party at the Millar Arena on March 14, which was the last day for ice skating. The PTO sponsors this event for any child at HES and their family members so we always have students from the other buildings as well. Even though there was a range of skating abilities everyone had a really great time.
Coming up in the first week of April our school will be finishing up the dental sealants for students in grade two. This is a wonderful program that we receive through a statewide grant that allows dental providers to apply sealants to any second graders’ molars. This is a huge savings to parents who do not have dental insurance.
Mrs. Beaton also applies for another dental grant to provide dental education, dental floss, toothbrushes, and toothpaste that she distributes once per year to students in the early elementary grades. Here’s smiling at you, Mrs. Beaton!
On April 8 and 9 the Houlton Elementary students were jumping all over heart disease and strokes in the fundraiser called Jump Rope for Heart. Students took pledges for the American Heart Association, which raises funds for research, programs, and education to fight heart disease and stroke. In the 15 years that Shari Good has been conducting this event at H.E.S. the students, with support of their families and community, have raised $36,831. During that same time frame, the former Wellington School students raised $10,064. Hats off to the students for their willingness to help others.
