Your child’s success in school depends on having a solid educational background—one that can only be gained through regular school attendance. 

Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in school success.  Research also shows that children who are in school most of the time do better on state tests and kids who are absent more often score lower on state tests.

Being late for school hurts a child’s learning, too.  A student who is 10 minutes late every day will miss 30 hours of instruction during the school year.

Children can copy notes or make up an assignment, but they can never get back what’s most important:  the discussion, the questions, the explanations by the teacher and the thinking that makes learning come alive.

Here’s how you can encourage and maintain your child’s regular school attendance.

• Discuss with your child what happened at school each day and show your child why education is important.
• Make sure your child stays healthy by eating nutritious food and getting enough sleep and exercise.
• Lead by example.  If children see parents taking off work for no real reason, they may expect to be able to do the same thing.
• Avoid scheduling family trips during school days.
• Try to schedule health care appointments so that your child may attend part of the school day.  When a student is absent part of a day for the purpose of a health care appointment, the student can be counted present for the entire day if the student will bring a note from the doctor.  A student cannot be counted present – even with a doctor’s note – if the entire school day is missed.

 Sunray Elementary School will also be encouraging regular attendance by recognizing the students that were in attendance each and every day for ADA (Average Daily Attendance).  ADA Attendance Awards will be given to all students in grades PK through 4 who are present for the entire grading period each six weeks and for the entire school year.     

Learning builds day by day.  A child who misses a day of school misses a day of learning!