The following letter from Mr. Lambert will be coming home with students in Grades Pre-K through 6th today, January 30th. This letter highlights key details about how to make sure absences are excused and reminders about how unexcused absences and tardies tie into our PBIS program. This document can also be found as a PDF on our website here. Please take time to review.
January 30, 2023
Dear Parents and Guardians:
The 2022-23 school year at Brandywine Elementary has been extremely successful thus far. Students, staff, and parents have worked diligently to up hold the high expectations that this school demands. We are seeing significant growth in all grade levels in math and reading. Just as important, we see improvement in our students’ social and emotional well-being. I believe these numbers are attributable to our improved attendance and lack of tardiness which lead to consistency in the classroom. I want to thank you for this improvement in attendance and ask that it becomes a continued part of our high expectations and culture at BES.
I want to remind parents of the procedures required to make sure student absences are excused and what results in unexcused. If your child misses a day of school, one of two things need to take place. A parent note needs to be written and sent with your child when they return to school or a doctor’s note must be turned in to school or faxed from the medical office. If a parent note is not received within three days, the absence will be unexcused. Parents may write up to five parent notes per semester for a total of ten for the entire school year. Additionally, students will be counted tardy if they do not arrive to school at or before 8:00 a.m. Doors open for parent drop off and buses each day at 7:15 a.m.
Next, I want to highlight the attendance criteria for our PBIS incentives that is found in our student handbook. Six or more tardies or three or more unexcused absences will result in a loss of the PBIS incentive. This criteria is for each semester, therefore tardies and absences start over again when the 2nd semester begins. Please remember that you can write up to five parent notes each semester and all doctor/medical notes received will be excused. I made phone calls this past semester to notify parents who had students with numerous unexcused absences and no parents notes used. This will not happen moving forward.
In closing, I started this letter talking about the growth that is taking place here at BES. This growth will continue when we consistently have students sitting in their chairs eyeball to eyeball with their teacher and peers. One of the most important things you can do for your child’s success is to make attendance a priority. Thank you for your continued support and the positive role you play in your child’s education.