Positive Parenting: Welcome back to school; we look forward to seeing more of you.

by Cathy Payne

August 1st seems to be the unofficial launch of the Back to School season. Stores have back-to-school sales to inspire students, parents, and teachers to have an amazing school year. This time of year also informally marks the end of the summer. For many of us, the beginning of the new school year is a chance to begin with a clean slate and apply the lessons we learned the previous year. Some of us strive for a new look that will show how much we changed, while others will search for the perfect school supplies to ensure success.

This year Stockbridge Community School District is taking on a new initiative—attendance. The message to students and families is simple: We Want You Here. The first step to student success is just showing up. The concept is very simple; if students are present, they can engage with their peers, their learning, and the positive experiences schools have to offer. If they are not present, they miss out on learning, developing skills, and engaging with their peers.

School is about more than the lessons taught in the classroom. At school, students are introduced to new people and a wide range of opportunities and organizations. They learn how to get along with others through participation in athletics, FFA, extracurricular activities, as well as through class participation. Learning to navigate various situations and relationships just through day-to-day interactions is a lesson in itself.

Meeting new people and participating in organizations can be difficult, but as young people get involved and take the chance to meet new people, it gets easier and helps them grow.  Many people develop lifelong friendships in school, and that is something no one should miss out on.

One secret to student success at every level is good attendance. Students experience many benefits by regularly attending school. The following points make a convincing case for ramping up student attendance.

We want you here because:

• It helps you with your academic success. When students are in school, they engage in their learning. Not only do students learn the targeted learning standards, but they have time to practice the concepts and ask questions when they don’t understand.
• It reduces gaps in learning. Learning is very often sequential, especially in the younger levels. It is difficult for a student to learn how to multiply fractions if they missed the lessons on fractions.
• It can help you connect with others. In all levels, from kindergarten through senior year, students need to work with others. They learn how to communicate and work as a team. Often this leads to learning how to speak up for oneself.
• It helps to minimize anxiety and negative feelings about school. Feelings of anxiety and stress tend to increase when students frequently miss school. This can lead students to feel so behind that they become discouraged and stop trying.
• It helps you grow socially. Children learn quite a bit by simply being around their peers. They learn how to share, resolve problems, and navigate different challenges.
• It opens doors of opportunity. Many opportunities exist for students these days, but there is a lot of competition out there as well. Being in school and engaged in something they are passionate about can translate into opportunities after graduation. It doesn’t matter what the program is, whether it is athletics, student government, the agriculture program, drama, band or choir, game club, to name a few.
• It helps you gain confidence. As students learn and grow in a variety of subjects and fields, often their confidence will soar. This confidence has the potential to follow students into adulthood.

SCS staff are eager to meet and work with students. As students begin the first semester, they and their families should know that school staff are rooting for student success and happiness.

We look forward to this new school year, and we want you here! Have a wonderful school year!

Activity Highlight: One suggestion that has made rounds on the Internet is to begin each day with a dance. It can change how you go out into the world. Try it at home before school for one week—individually or as a family. Take turns picking the song and dance for at least two minutes. Coming out of your shell at home may make it easier to interact with others throughout the day.

One secret to student success at every level is good attendance, which enables in-class and extracurricular participation. Image credit: Taylor Flowe on unsplash.com

Cathy Payne has been teaching for the past 23 years. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.