Principal Pflueger
Press
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November 15, 2011 |
By Gary Pflueger, Principal
Friends of Valley View,
In my last letter, I wrote about strengthening
the academic effectiveness at VVES. This letter
will address attendance. My focus will always
hold to maintaining a strong academic school
program for each and every child. To do this, we
need the students at school as often as
possible. The four day week has increased the
importance of faithful attendance. Let’s look at
it mathematically: the traditional five day per
week school has 180 school days. The four day
school week has only 143 contact days. To begin
with, our students have 37 less days of school
than most schools. We do have more hours per day
and so a full day absent leaves a bigger mark.
The Boundary County School District has a K-8
Attendance Policy (#3051). This policy outlines
the difference between an excused absence and an
unexcused absence. It also acknowledges the
number of days a student can miss in a
semester—10 days. This policy is very lenient
and may be revisited. As it is, I will take
steps to enforce the policy. Attendance is
important for state funding, but the biggest
toll is paid in the student’s educational
development. Every study that compares testing
to attendance has shown those students with
higher attendance rates do better on
standardized testing and better in school
overall. Many of our students cannot master
concepts without the benefit of the instruction
given in the classroom.
I know there are legitimate reasons a child
needs to be absent. We do not want to complicate
the healing process or infect other students
with influenza, a virus or even head lice.
Reasonable care is needed by all of us. It is my
job as principal to determine if an absence is
acceptable or not; with this, I need open
communication with you. It is my duty to provide
a strong educational program to the children in
Boundary County; this is with the best interest
of your child in mind! Please get your child to
school as often as possible. On the behalf of
your child’s teacher, I thank you!
Speaking of head lice and attendance; the
critters have struck again. This nuisance, which
knows no economic boundaries, can be stopped.
This begins with educating the students. At
school we take every precaution that is
reasonable. Please reinforce our teachings to
keep personal clothing separate, not to share
hats, to keep your own space, etc. We clearly do
not have staff members to check all our
students. It is the parent’s responsibility to
check their children. In the evening please sit
with your child, occasionally, to check for
lice. While doing this, talk about school. Have
your child read to you or practice math facts,
or just visit. If you have time to help us
monitor the issue at school; please give me a
call!
Here are a few other opportunities and issues:
• Following your Parent-Teacher Conference,
please go to the BCSD website and fill out a
short survey regarding the schools ability to
prepare you for these important meetings. If you
do not have a computer, we can set one up for
you at school.
• For winter fun—skiing/snowboarding for free:
go to
www.nimsef.com. Fill out an application to
North Idaho Mountain Sports Education Fund Inc.
This is for children ages 7-14. Scholarships are
available. Transportation is up to the parents!
Physical activity feeds the brain!
• The VVES Parent Surveys have been collected
and tallied. Very interesting and mostly
positive! All issues will be addressed. Thank
you for the input; copies are available upon
request.
Upcoming Events:
November 17: Pre-order your Colorado Blue Spruce
for Christmas from our fabulous PTO by this
date.
Great Deal! 5’ and under $20; over 5’ $30. Watch
for a letter coming home soon. For more info
call Marsha at (208) 267-8088. |
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