HEALTH SERVICES * P.O. Box 2019, Appleton, WI 54911 * 920-997-1399 ext. 2106
Does Good Attendance Matter?
As school nurses, we are asked to assess and monitor the health of our students. We are frequently asked to check school attendance patterns. This can be an eye-opening experience.
For instance, if a student misses 10 days per year for the lifetime of their school career, that adds up to 130 days… almost a full school year. Research and experience teach us those students with poor attendance are at greater risk for school difficulty. This is especially true as students enter middle and high school. Making up missed schoolwork is very helpful, but missed classroom instruction cannot be made up.
We try to impress upon students that there is a difference between “not feeling well” and being truly sick. We all know there are times when we do not feel 100%, but still try to make it through the day. Students understand that parents do this in order to keep their jobs. This is a real “life skill” that employers look for when hiring. They want employees they can count on to come to work. For students, school is their job.
Common sense can guide parents in deciding when a child is sick enough to be at home. If you are uncertain about sending your child to school, please call us. Sometimes a second opinion can be of help!
Not only is school attendance a legal requirement, it encourages behavior that will help your child be successful in life. So while the days of “perfect attendance” may be old fashioned, great school attendance will never go out of style!
