Attendance Awareness & Supports

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student's academic success. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job. With spring break approaching, we've noticed a trend of declining attendance in the weeks following the break. We want to encourage all families to maintain strong attendance habits through the end of the school year, as this final stretch is crucial for academic success.

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
• Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
• Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student's academic success.

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
• Help your children maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night's sleep.
• Try not to schedule dental and non-urgent related medical appointments during the school day.
• Keep your student healthy. If you are concerned about a possible contagious illness, call your school or health care provider.
• If your children must stay home because they are sick, make sure they have asked teachers for resources and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom.

• Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes, and feel safe from bullies and other threats.
• Make sure your teens are not missing class because of challenges with behavioral issues or school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, contact the school and work with them to find a solution.
• Monitor your teen's academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors when necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
• Stay on top of your child's social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
• Encourage your child to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.
• Support your students if you notice signs of anxiety, and if needed, seek advice from your school or health provider.

• A parent/guardian should call the school at (847) 859-8600 by 10:00 a.m. to report a daily absence. Please provide name of the child, grade, homeroom teacher, and reason for the absence. If no contact is made within one day of the absence, it will be considered unexcused.

• To report a longterm absence, mid-day absence, or other absence reporting procedures, please see Attendance Reporting.

• To check your child's attendance in PowerSchool, log into the Parent Portal, navigate to the "Grades and Attendance" section, and then select the specific course or click on the attendance history tab for a more comprehensive view.
• "Attendance History": Look for a tab or link labeled "Attendance History" or similar for a more comprehensive view of your child's attendance record.

If your child is showing reluctance or resistance to attending school, you're not alone. Many middle school students experience periods of heightened anxiety or avoidance behaviors related to school attendance. Here are some ways to help:

• Identify the underlying causes: Have gentle conversations to understand if your child is experiencing specific concerns such as academic difficulties, social challenges, bullying, or anxiety.
• Maintain morning routines: Consistent wake-up times and structured morning activities can reduce anxiety and make the transition to school more predictable.
• Collaborate with school staff: Our counselors, social workers, and administrators can develop individualized support plans. Please reach out to us—we're here to help.