Welome to Challenger High School!
We are looking forward to working with all of you during the 2017-18 school year. Our goal is to ensure that every student attends school regularly (fewer than 1 absence a month) at Challenger High School. Challenger students who have regular attendance are very successful at our school and we want students to be at school each and every day.
Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in high school and continuing through graduation. Even as students grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.
We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school— regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your student is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent—which means missing 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year. Research shows:
- Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
- By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
- By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.
Absences can add up quickly. A student is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month!! Clearly going to school regularly matters!
We don’t want your student to fall behind in school and get discouraged. Please ensure that your student attends school every day and arrives on time (7:55 for the AM session, 10:55 for the PM session). Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
- Make sure your student keeps a regular bedtime and establishes a morning routine.
- Ensure your student goes to school every day unless they are truly sick (fever, throwing up, etc).
- Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
- Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your student feels anxious about going to school. Our academic counselor (Alison VonStein) and school social worker (Patti Bunnel) are on hand to support students in getting to school every day, on time.
- Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your student to school.
Let us know how we can best support you and your student so that they can show up for school on time every day. We want your student to be successful at Challenger High School! If you have any questions or need more information please contact us at Challenger 253.683.6800.
Sincerely,
Jeff Johnson
Principal
