Principal Pflueger Press |
| November 15, 2011 |
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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. |