By being absent just one day, your child misses countless opportunities for learning. While most teachers will do their best to provide work that will allow your child to catch up, it isn’t the same as actually participating in the missed lessons. Most children can’t simply pick up where they left off when they return to school. Instead, they’ll be forced to play catch-up in order to avoid continually falling further behind. Being absent from school is a slippery slope that can be extremely frustrating for a child as they attempt to stay up to date on their lessons while the students who were present continue to move forward.
If you know that your child will be absent, it’s important to inform their teachers as soon as possible. They may be able to provide assignments for your child to complete during their absence. However, you should keep in mind that what the teacher does with his or her students in the classroom cannot always be replicated by a worksheet or packet that is sent home. Some assignments can’t be completed outside of the classroom. Others simply can’t be replicated without the in-person experience of their teacher actually teaching them or the interaction that takes place with other students.
Why is Your Child Missing School?
If your child is missing school due to vacations, activities, and appointments, it’s important to avoid scheduling these things during school hours whenever possible. Your child can’t control these events, so understanding the value of every minute of their school day is important for you as a parent.
In many cases, sporadic absences that are due to a child not wanting to attend school can be avoided with a bit of proactive involvement on your part. With older children, they’ll frequently fall ill on the due date of a presentation or project that they haven’t quite completed. By taking an active role in their education, you can help your child plan ahead and stay organized so that they can avoid those last-minute-panic-induced illnesses.
When it seems that your child’s desire to skip school is becoming more frequent, it’s important to address this and do what you can to solve whatever problems are keeping them from enjoying school. Sometimes simple things like speaking positively about school, sticking to a routine, and making sure your child gets enough sleep are enough to keep them engaged. In other cases, there may be something more serious going on. Feeling lonely or being bullied are two big reasons why children may want to skip school frequently, and these are issues that should be taken seriously and addressed promptly.
At St. Barnabas Episcopal School our faculty and staff are dedicated to ensuring that your child is engaged in their education and work hard to provide opportunities for students to thrive in an environment that fosters learning through the development of faith, virtue, and excellence. Contact us today to schedule a tour.
