Attendance

Yes I am still battling away at raising our whole school attendance statistics to the Ministry of Education target of 92%. This fortnight our attendance is 88.6%.

 Why is it so Important to attend every day?

• Learning is a progressive activity; each day’s lessons build upon those of the previous day(s).
• Reading the material and completing work independently does not compensate for the loss of insight gained during class discussion or the loss of competency acquired through explanation or supervised drill.
• Many classes use lectures, discussions, demonstrations, experiments and participation, as part of the daily learning activities, and these cannot be made up by those who are absent.
• Regular student participation in daily classroom activities plays a significant role in a student’s school success.

Families can make a difference to raise attendance

Families should avoid extended vacations that require your children to miss school. Try to line up vacations with the school’s schedule. The same goes for doctor’s appointments.

For younger children, you can set a regular bedtime and morning routine. Make sure they get 9 to 11 hours of sleep. You can lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.

For older children, you can help set homework and bedtime routines that allow for 8 ½ to 9 ½ hours of sleep. Make sure that when the lights go out, so do the cell phones, video games and computers.

Above all, set an example for your child. Show him or her that attendance matters to you and that you won’t allow an absence unless someone is truly sick. Don’t ask older students to help with daycare and household errands.

Remember, regular attendance is necessary for success in school. Help ensure that your child has the best opportunity for success by making sure he/she is in school every day.