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Attendance

Help Your Child Succeed in Preschool

Build the Habit of Good Attendance
Early School Success goes hand in hand with good attendance!

Did You Know?

When do absences become a problem? Satisfactory 9 or fewer absences. Warning signs 10 to 17 days. Chronic absence 18+.

Showing up on time every day is important to your child's success and learning from preschool forward.

Missing 10 percent of preschool (one or two days every few weeks) can:

  • Make it harder to develop early reading skills.

  • Make it harder to get ready for kindergarten and first grade.

  • Develop a poor attendance pattern that's hard to break.

High quality preschool programs have many benefits for your child. The routines your child develops in preschool will continue throughout school. You can make the most of preschool by encouraging your child to attend every day!

What Can You Do?

Work with your child and his/her teacher to help your child develop strong attendance. Your enthusiasm is a big boost to success.

Talk about it - sing about it - make it an adventure!

  • Set a regular bed time and morning routine

  • Layout clothes and pack backpacks the night before

  • Share ideas with other parents for getting out the door on time

Before the school year starts:

  • Find out what day preschool starts and start the exciting countdown!

  • Make sure your child has the required shots.

  • Attend orientation with your child to meet the teachers and classmates.

Ready - Set GO!

  • Develop back-up plans for getting to preschool if something comes up

  • Ask family members, neighbors or other parents to lend a hand if you need help dropping off or picking up your child

  • Schedule medical appointments and extended trips when preschool is not in session

  • If your child seems anxious about going to preschool, talk to the program director, teacher, your doctor or other parents for advice. If the problem persists, make sure the program is a good fit for your child.

Attendance Procedures

Regular attendance is essential to your child’s academic experience. Students are most successful when they come to school every day and start and end the day with their peers.

Parents/guardians are required to report absences and tardiness of students as they occur. When leaving a message, please indicate the following:

  • Student’s name
  • Teacher’s name
  • Reason for absence
  • Return phone number 

The number of accumulated absences and late arrivals can be found on the student’s report cards distributed each marking period.

If a child is experiencing a fever, diarrhea and/or vomiting, the child must be kept home and be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to the classroom. If a child has been seen by a physician, please send a note to your child’s teacher.

Arrival to School

We have a very busy Preschool day and it is important that we start on time! Students should arrive promptly at the start of instructional time if your child will not be participating in breakfast. If you are going to be later than the start of the school day, please call and let the school know. Please try to schedule any appointments for after school or on days off so that there are minimal disruptions to the routine and your child benefits from a full day of school.

Early Departure

Leaving school earlier than the scheduled dismissal time is discouraged. Please make every attempt to schedule appointments after school hours so that students can benefit from a full day of instruction. Students needing to leave early MUST submit a note signed by their parent/guardian to their teacher. The note must state the student’s name, teacher, and time of departure. In addition, please mention if a person other than the parent or guardian is picking up the child. The parents/guardians MUST pick up the student at the requested time and complete the student sign-out book.