September, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
School attendance is a priority at all grade levels. In fact, it is a point we emphasize to all students on the very first day of school. We know that showing up for school can greatly impact a child’s academic success:
“Ensuring kids actually make it to school is a vital part of leveling the playing field. Just missing a couple of days of school a month can mean the difference between dropping out and graduating on time. Absences add up. That’s why eliminating chronic absenteeism is a critical part of our work at the federal, state, and local level to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed.” --U.S. Sec. of Education John B. King Jr.
We thank you for supporting us by making attendance a priority and helping your child understand that establishing good attendance habits now is important for success in school and later in life.
The Evansville Community School District policy allows for ten (10) excused absences in a school year. Beyond ten days we ask that absences be verified by a doctor’s excuse, or be preapproved by the Principal.
We realize that some absences are unavoidable. At the same time, we know that when students miss too much school they can fall behind academically. We don’t want your child to fall behind and get discouraged. Here are some things you can do to keep your child on track:
- Make daily, on-time attendance the expectation in your household
- Establish regular routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night sleep
- When possible, avoid scheduling dental and medical appointments during the school day
- Avoid extended vacations that require your child to miss school
- Don’t let your child stay home unless he or she is truly sick
- Ask for help from school officials if you’re having trouble getting your child to school
If your child is sick or there is a legitimate reason for keeping your child home, we ask that you please contact the Levi Leonard Elementary office at (608) 882-3101 before 8:00 A.M. If your child does see a doctor or is in the care of a medical professional, kindly provide the school with a note from the doctor or clinic.
As a reminder, school start time is 8:00 A.M. If a student is going to be late to school and you wish to excuse your child, please call the school office at the number above. A student who is more than 1 minute late to a class is considered tardy for attendance purposes. Please review the district policy # 430, titled School Attendance. This is located on the district website. Click on School Board then select policies.
Excused or unexcused, attendance matters. We want your child to be successful this year and throughout his or her life. Time lost from school means time lost from learning. For more information on the National campaign to reduce absenteeism, please check out absencesaddup.org. Let’s work together to ensure that your child is able to be in school regularly, if not every day.
Sincerely,
Mark Simonson, School Counselor
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