Kindergarten Success Guide

Start Strong, Finish Strong

Setting the path to graduationBy Pupil Support Services

If You Want Your Child to Graduate Attendance

Matters Every Day

• Poor attendance in kindergarten is a chief indicator that your student may not graduate and increases risky behaviors that create road blocks to success

• Missing just 2 to 3 days per month puts your student at risk for failing

• Being late to class means missing instruction time and disrupting classmates. Tardiness has been linked to lower self esteem and setting the path to disengagement from school

Good Attendance Means

• Your student will:• Receive more instruction time• Master reading skills faster• SAUSD wants all students reading by grade three.

• Have more opportunities to build social and emotional skills• These skills lead to: • Better grades• Involvement in school activities• Higher graduation rates• More opportunities• Being responsible• Learning respect

Good Parents Help By:

• Establishing a Night Time Routine and a Get Ready Area

• Bed Time • If your student is too tired to get up in the morning

then they need to go to bed ½ hour earlier. Some people need more sleep and some people need less but most elementary school students are asleep by 8:00 pm

• Two Hours Before Bed Time• Bath time• Set alarm clock• GET READY AREA

• In an area child will remember • Lay out clothes for tomorrow • Put homework in backpack• Put shoes next to backpack• Prepare snack/lunch bag

• One Hour Before Bed Time• Shut down all electronics

• TV

• Computer

• Cell Phone – students give phone to

parent

• Half Hour Before Bed Time• Quiet time

• Read to your child every night • Listen to tranquil music• Spend time cuddling

• Enroll in parenting classes• Ask for health/mental health

resources• Volunteer to help others

Optimize Student Attendance• Illness prevention guidelines for students• Get flu shots• Wash hands frequently• Get scheduled checkups before or after school• Eat your fruits and vegetables to stay healthy

• Work with your school nurse if your student has • Asthma• Diabetes• Chronic illness

• Ask for a list of health/mental health resources• Students may attend WIN “What I Need” program if

they miss a day of school• Speak to staff at your school if something is going on at

home that we should know about, we want to help

Absences

Excused

• Funerals of parent, sibling, grandparent

• Pre-arranged vacation approved by administrator

• College visit

• Participation in sports event

• Illness – verified

• Doctor visit

Unexcused

• Funerals of aunt, uncle, cousin, friend

• Vacation – out of town

• Broken car

• Missed bus

• Head ache, tummy ache

• Didn’t get up in time

WIN “What I Need” Program

• Your child qualifies after the first full day absence. You will receive an invitation for your child to attend

• Offered one Saturday per month 8:15 am to 12:30 pm

• Students:• Make up missed days in a fun setting

• Receive small group and personal tutoring

• Receive free lunch

• Outdoor recreation time

When should you send your child to school?

Yes

• Asthma • Diabetes• Cold symptoms• Strains, sprains, pains• Tummy ache• Bad mood• Tired

No

• Fever 101+

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Severe cough

• Rash with fever

• Doctor’s note says do not return to school

SAUSD Will Send Absence Notification Letters to Your Home• Tardy letters are sent after 3, 6 and 9 tardies (3 letters)• Slip must be signed and returned to office with a plan for

attending on time every day• Excessive Excused Absence letters are sent after 4 & 7

excused absences (2 letters)• Review health flyer• Enroll in WIN program

• Truancy letters are sent after 3 unexcused absences of 30+ minutes • Required to meet with your school administrator

• After 5 unexcused absences of 30+ minutes • Required to attend District Attorney meeting

• After 7 unexcused absences of 30+ minutes • Required to meet with a School Attendance Review Board

• www.sausd.us• Click Parents• Click Parent/Student Portal• Click Welcome to aeries Parent Portal link• Create account• Login in WEEKLY to prevent unnecessary letters

and interventions• The Parent Portal is provided to you because we

want you to be involved and stay involved.

Be InvolvedStay Involved

1. Check Attendance every week• Check for accuracy – did your student turn in absence note?

2. Check Assignments every week3. Check Grades 4. Check Demographics• Address• Phone number• Emergency contacts• If you move or change phone number, inform school staff

immediately. You need to request an Intra-District Permit for student to remain at current school if moving outside school boundaries

Extended Vacations or Out of Town

• Pre-arrange class work with your child’s teacher

• Must be approved by administrator

• Contact teacher as soon as possible

• Inform Attendance staff as soon as possible

• Ask attendance staff to explain any codes you do not understand

Set Attendance Goals for Graduation

Success

• Students:• Receive Perfect Attendance awards• Show leadership through attendance• Get better grades with higher attendance• Master English reading benchmarks quicker• Graduate on time when attendance is high• Need an Attendance Buddy • Create Attendance poster to share with your class• Inspire your peers to have the highest attendance in the District• Parents:• Work together with neighbors to make sure all students get to school on

time. Let school staff or Pupil Support Services (714) 433-3481 know if neighbors need attendance support. We are here to serve your needs.

• Read to your child every day in your language of preference

Welcome to Kindergarten Your Child’s Pathway to Graduation