October 05th, 2018

10/5/2018

Attendance matters:
from the first day of preschool until graduation

Help your child succeed. Build the habit of good attendance and support your child's future. (The information in this newsletter comes from attendanceworks.org)

Did you know?

Showing up on time every day is important to your child's success and learning from preschool forward?

Preschool:

Missing 10 percent of preschool (one or two days every few weeks) can

Make it harder to develop early reading skills
Make it harder to get ready for kindergarten and first grade
Develop a poor attendance pattern that is hard to break.

The routines your child develops in preschool will continue throughout school. Encourage and support your child in attending every day!
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. God attendance will help children do well in high school, college and at work.

Elementary School:

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 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.
Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.

High School

Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
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 potentially serious difficulty.
By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs a student may drop out of high school.
By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

What you can do:

Preschool and Elementary School Tips:

Talk about it-sing about it-make it an adventure!
Set a regular bed time and morning routine.
( If you want help with this, you can find charts at this website, or contact your Parent Liaison for ideas.)
Share ideas with other parents about getting out the door on time
Ask family members, neighbors, or other parents to lend a hand if you need help dropping off or picking up your child. Develop back up plans.
Schedule medical appointments and extended trips for times when school is not in session.
Layout clothes and backpacks the night before to ease morning stress.

Don't let your child stay home unless she is truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
If your child feels anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors or other parents for advice and help.
Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night's sleep.

High School Tips

Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Use your Powerschool Parent access. Contact teachers by email if you have questions or concerns. Staff Directory link
Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and clubs. If you have barriers to access, ask your child's counselor.
Talk to teachers if you see sudden changes in behavior. This could indicate something going on at school
Ask for help from school officials, afterschool programs, other parents or community agencies if you are having trouble getting your child to school.

Resources

Find charts for morning and night routines and screen time use here. www.pricelessparenting.com/chart-for-kids

PowerSchool Parent https://powerschool.jpsonline.org/public/
Attendance pledge for elementary parents http://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GLR_pledgecard_Eng_r81.pdf
Attendance tips video https://vimeo.com/240840053
Attendance matters video https://youtu.be/AAksIBBpMWc

For support with attendance, contact your child's teacher, building principal, building secretary, school counselor or Parent Liaison. We want to help you be successful!

Upcoming events and opportunities

There is a lot going on at Georgetown Library. Check the website at https://www.gtwp.com/calendar.aspx?CID=22, or call (616) 457-9620 for more information.
LEGO ChallengeMonday, October 8, 2018Kids ages 6 - 13 years old are invited to bring a one gallon re-closable storage bag of their own building bricks to the Library. Each child will have 45 minutes to create something around the theme that will be announced that afternoon, or they can free-build! Registration required.
Henna Tattoos for AdultsMonday, October 8, 2018BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Learn about the history of henna, how different areas have different patterns, and how the Western world has taken henna and completely changed it. Then learn some basic patterns. Each participant will receive a cone and learn how to use it. Ages 16 & up
Author Visit: Lynn AustinTuesday, October 9, 2018Popular inspirational fiction author Lynn Austin will be speaking about her new book, Legacy of Mercy, the sequel to Waves of Mercy, her novel set in Holland, MI. Lynn will be sharing information about her writing process, how she became a writer, and how she researches books. Lynn Austin is the author of 27 novels, and holds the record for the most Christy Awards won: eight! This program will be held at the Georgetown Township Hall in the Meeting Room. All ages are welcome. No registration necessary.
Craft Night: Wood Block Pumpkin DecorOctober 10, 2018, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM @ Georgetown Township Public Library
Join us in making a craft each month! October's craft will be a wood block pumpkin decor (similar to pictured; base not included). All supplies will be provided. Cost is $5 and can be paid at the time of the class. Ages 16+.
More Details

Stuffed Animal SleepoverThursday, October 11, 2018Bring your favorite stuffed animal for a sleepover at the library! Join us first for an all ages (8 and under) family story time! You and your stuffed animals will listen to stories, sing songs, and make a craft! After story time, leave your stuff animal for their sleepover! The stuffed friends will get up to all sorts of mischief while the library is closed, which you and your children will be able to see pictures of on the library Facebook page! On Friday morning, starting at 10am, stop back by and pick up your stuffed animal. If you like, you can stay for our 10:30 am Music and Movement. NOTE: Please make sure your stuffed animal is CLEARLY MARKED with your family's last name. This will prevent mix-ups when picking up your stuffed animal on Friday. All stuffed animals must be claimed by 9:00 pm on Tuesday, October 16th.

Kids Flicks: Hotel Transylvania 3 (PG)Saturday, October 13, 2018Join us for a movie! Rated PG, 97 min. For content review, please visit https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/hotel-transylvania-3-summer-vacation

Other area fun:
Swing Dancing- Rosa Parks CircleTuesday, October 09, 2018 | 07:00 PM to 09:30 PM
Come out and get your swing on with Grand Rapids Original Swing Society, 2012 Guinness Book record holders for worlds largest swing dance. There will be live music and Djs all summer long.

Holland Fall Fest
Saturday October 1312:00pm – 7:00pmDowntown Holland
The nation’s best professional pumpkin carvers return to Downtown Holland on Saturday, where they will spend the afternoon sculpting incredible, three-dimensional pumpkin displays. Watch these talented artists at work, then be sure to return later on to see their finished masterpieces! Enjoy free games and crafts for children from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm in GDK Park (between HOM by Benchmark and Francesca’s) or take a hayride to the Holland Farmers Market (and back again) from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm for just $1.00 thanks to Visser Farms!

See more activities and events at https://grkids.com/

When

Tuesday, October 09, 2018 | 07:00 PM - 09:30 PM
Tuesday, October 16, 2018 | 07:00 PM - 09:30 PM

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