Attendance Matters

 Seeing your children in the classroom brings our teachers and staff a lot of joy!

All Watertown students are valued. We want to see all students succeed! Missing just two days per month can affect learning – no matter the age, grade level, or academic achievement.

Attending school regularly helps students feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important.

Parents of Elementary Students:

-         Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.

-         Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.

-         Keep your child healthy and make sure your child has the required vaccines.

-         Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.

-         Try to schedule non-urgent related medical appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session.

-         If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.

Parents of Intermediate and Middle School Students:

-         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.

-         Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes and feel safe from bullies and other threats.

-         Monitor your teen’s academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors when necessary.

-         Encourage your child to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.

Parents of High School Students:

-         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.

-         Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.

-         Establish a rule that missing school is missing out on activities, part-time jobs, and time with friends.

-         Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day. Attendance at their future jobs or at secondary-education courses will be required.