It hardly seems possible that we have a month under our belts already and we are quickly approaching autumn. Thank you to our students, families, and staff for your patience in rolling out another academic year. Sometimes adjustments need to be made to enable things to run smoothly and you have all been great team players in ensuring the year starts off right! I also appreciate you watching our first episode of Sixty Seconds with the Superintendent.

The topic of attendance is important for a variety of reasons outside of the obvious. For example, poor attendance has serious implications for students' outcomes as they progress past school.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, "High school dropouts have been found to exhibit a history of negative behaviors, including high levels of absenteeism throughout their childhood, at higher rates than high school graduates. 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 from high school. In eighth grade, this pattern was even more apparent, and, by ninth grade, attendance was shown to be a key indicator significantly correlated with high school graduation."

Attending school not only strengthens students' academic achievements, but teaches discipline, creates structure, extends to them a sense of community, and, in many cases, ensures they receive regular meals. Further, learning socialization skills and responsibility in school contributes to success post-graduation.

We recognize the trials that sometimes contribute to absence from school and we know they often can include transportation, social and family issues, and physical well-being. We ask that you communicate with us so that we can find a solution together.

We also encourage families to take a positive and proactive approach to their child's attendance. Small rewards, positive affirmations, and encouragement go a long way toward helping your child attend school consistently.

If you experience extenuating circumstances and need support, please contact your school's leadership team or counselors so we can all work together to form an achievable attendance plan.

Thanks for being part of our team!