Dear Traip Families,
It is hard to believe that we have already been in school for a month! As we move into October, I wanted to take a moment to highlight the importance of school attendance. September is recognized as Attendance Awareness Month, an opportunity to remind students and families that being present at school regularly supports learning, connection, and success throughout the school year.
Over the next couple of weeks, I will be joining each Advisory to talk with students about the importance of building strong attendance habits. We know that getting to school consistently is not always easy, and there can be many reasons students miss school. Our goal is to help students understand why attendance matters and give them practical strategies for developing habits that support regular attendance.
Here are some important research findings, that will also be shared with students:
Regular attendance is strongly connected to academic success and graduation. Students who miss school frequently are more likely to fall behind academically and experience challenges staying on track for graduation.
The beginning of the school year matters. Attendance patterns established early in the year are important in developing strong attendance habits that will carry throughout the school year. Research highlighted by the Baltimore Education Research Consortium found that students who missed several days in September were more likely to experience attendance challenges later in the school year.
Being at school supports connection and belonging. Regular attendance gives students more opportunities to build relationships with peers and teachers, participate in school activities, and feel connected to their school community.
Missing a little bit can add up quickly. Chronic absenteeism is generally defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, which is about 17 days in a typical 175-day school year. That works out to roughly two days per month. Importantly, absences can add up whether they are excused or unexcused.
Strategies that support attendance:
Build routines that make mornings easier. Packing backpacks, gathering materials, and even choosing clothes the night before can make mornings smoother and reduce the number of decisions that need to happen when everyone is trying to get out the door.
Prioritize sleep. Teens ages 13–18 are recommended to get 8–10 hours of sleep each night. Consistent bedtimes and wake times can help, as well as creating a routine that allows time to wind down before bed. Consider limiting screens and keeping phones and other devices out of the bedroom and/or turned off during the night when possible. Adequate sleep is associated with better attention, behavior, and learning.
Whenever possible, schedule appointments and travel outside of the school day. Of course, medical appointments, family circumstances, and other needs sometimes make absences unavoidable. When you do need to schedule something during school hours, planning ahead and communicating with the school can help students stay connected to their classes and keep up with their work.
Help your teen learn to monitor their health. Not every minor symptom requires a day away from school, but students should stay home when they are too sick to participate comfortably or when they may be contagious. CDC guidance recommends keeping students home for symptoms such as fever, repeated vomiting, significant diarrhea, or respiratory symptoms that are worsening or not improving. Students can generally return when they are well enough to participate and their symptoms are improving.
Keep an eye on attendance patterns. One missed day here and there may not seem significant (even if excused), but absences can accumulate more quickly than families realize. Checking attendance regularly can help identify a pattern early, when it is easier to address.
Most importantly, please reach out to the school counseling office if something is making regular attendance difficult. Transportation, health concerns, family responsibilities, anxiety, academic challenges, and many other circumstances can create barriers to getting to school. We want to work in partnership with students and families to understand those barriers and identify supports.
Warmly,
Megan Abbott
Mental Health Outreach and Services Specialist
Kittery School District