Rhea Androy, Attendance Secretary at Westwood High School, is letting students know just how important regular attendance is:
“Attendance is a very significant part of education,” says Androy, “Preschool is a great time to start building a habit of good attendance. Studies show that poor attendance in preschool can predict absenteeism in later grades.”
Androy says that your child can suffer academically if they miss 10 percent of school days or about 18 days. That can be just one day every two weeks, and that can happen before you know it.
“When your child misses school it doesn’t matter if the absences are excused (ill/medical) or unexcused (personal),” explains Androy, “they all represent lost time in the classroom and a lost opportunity to learn. Too many absent students can affect the whole classroom, by slowing down instruction.”
Tips from the Attendance Office at Westwood High include avoiding extended vacations that require your children to miss school. Try to line up vacations with the school’s calendar. The same goes for doctor’s appointments. “Above all,” says Androy, “set an example for your child by not asking him/her to do day care and household errands during school hours.”
“School is your first and most important job. You’re learning about more than math and reading. You’re learning how to show up for school and to be on time every day, so that when you graduate and get a job, you’ll know how to do just that.”
