Hampton Journalism

Jan Ediger - Guidance Counselor

It is hard to believe that November is here and the school year has passed the first quarter mark! We have completed our Fall activity seasons and are making the shift to Winter activities. Congratulations to all our coaches and activity sponsors for a great Fall season. It was fun to watch our Hawks compete. We look forward to cheering you on this winter! As we continue into the second quarter and the winter months, please keep your student’s attendance in mind. We know and understand that illness is a part of winter, and we hope your family stays healthy! Please keep your child home if they are running a fever and are not feeling well. Please consider the following information from attendanceworks.org and reachoutandread.org

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Starting in Kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
  • Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder for young children to learn to read.
  • Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two every few weeks.
  • Being late to school may lead to poor attendance later and the habit of being late.
  • Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help the child catch up on what was missed.

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and in their employment skills. Good habits start here.

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

  • Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
  • Lay out clothes and pack their backpack the night before.
  • Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly sick.
  • If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, the school counselor, or other parents about what you can do to make your child more comfortable and excited about learning.
  • Develop a backup plan for getting to school if something comes up.
  • Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.

When we all work together to help our students know the importance of being on time and having regular attendance, our students and school become more successful now and into the future. Please feel free to stop in, email, or call me with questions. Let me know how I can better serve you and your students. Have a very safe and blessed Thanksgiving!