The Dragon Digest

As we move deeper into the school year, this is usually the point when we start to see a few attendance totals quietly creeping upward. I wanted to share a quick reminder about Pennsylvania’s attendance rules so no one is surprised if something arrives in the mail.

By state law, once a student reaches ten total absences—whether those days are excused or unexcused—the school is required to send home a standardized attendance letter. That letter explains that any additional absences after the tenth day must be accompanied by a doctor’s note in order to be excused.

At that point, the rules tighten a bit. For families and for principals. Absences that would normally be excused (such as attending a funeral or family travel) can no longer be approved without medical documentation, and I'm no longer permitted to approve educational travel requests after the tenth absence.

You may notice that we’ve begun sending some of these letters home recently. Please know that these standardized notices, while pretty stiff and lawyer-y, are not meant as a reprimand or a judgment—they’re simply something the state requires schools to send once that threshold is reached.

We also recognize that real life happens. Sometimes absences are tied to things families simply can’t control, like chronic illness or ongoing medical needs. Unfortunately, attendance letters are triggered by the numbers on an absence report. That report isn't able to give clues as to the whys behind the absences. If your child’s absences are starting to add up, the best thing you can do is stay in communication with us. We’re always happy to talk through situations and figure out the best way to support your child and your family.

As always, thank you for your partnership and for everything you do to help make Jarrettown such a caring and supportive community.

Proud to be a Dragon,

If you happened to hear cheering coming from Jarrettown on Friday afternoon, you weren’t imagining things. That was the sound of our students realizing they had just crossed the 400,000-minute reading goal during this year’s Read-a-Thon.

For two weeks, books were everywhere—classrooms, hallways, backpacks, kitchen tables, and probably a few flashlights under the covers at bedtime. Our students set an ambitious goal this year, and they absolutely delivered, making this our most successful Read-a-Thon yet.

Even more impressive than the minutes logged was the excitement around reading. Students were talking about books, recommending favorites to friends, and celebrating milestones along the way. The level of enthusiasm and community participation from both our students and families was incredible.

Here are just a few of the impressive Dragons from this year’s Read-a-Thon:

Our Top Fundraising Class: Mrs. Mcintosh’s Class with $3745

Our Top Reading Class: Mrs. DuPrey’s Class with 25,321 minutes

Our Top reader in Kindergarten: Miles McNabb

Our Top Reader in 1st Grade: Sebastian Zentner

Our Top Reader in 2nd Grade: Jack Ashenbrenner

Our Top Reader in 3rd Grade: Fitzgerald Lauer

Our Top Reader in 4th Grade: Isabelle Deng

Our Top Reader in 5th Grade: Mack Lauer

Reading minutes goal: 400,000 minutes MET! ✅

Fundraising goal: $40,000 MET ✅

None of this happens without the support of our families at home. Thank you for encouraging your children to read, helping them find books they love, and for being such an important part of a school community that truly celebrates reading.

Click here for all the health news from our amazing nurse, Mrs. Berman.

What happens if you get noticed showing great character on campus? You just might earn a Dragon Dollar! What happens if your Dragon Dollar gets drawn during our PBIS Good Behavior Assembly? You just might get to have lunch with our Lovable Mr. Laird!

Get ready for one of our tastiest traditions—JTES Pasta Dinner on March 20! Enjoy a delicious family‑style pasta meal prepared by the Jarrettown Hotel and served by our amazing 5th‑grade helpers.

Bake sale desserts

Raffle baskets & 50/50

Two seatings: 5:00–6:15 & 6:45–8:00

Take‑out available (pick‑up at 5:00)

Purchase meals & reserve tickets at:

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/jtespasta2026