Make Every Day Count

This blog post was submitted for publication in the Friday, October 2 edition of the Traer Star Clipper.

On the first day of school in August, I challenged our students to make the most of every day this school year by being an active participant in their learning.  Perhaps you’ve heard the saying “You can’t win if you don’t play.”  You may have seen on the news that about a month ago that a man from Jesup won $1 million when he bought a Powerball ticket at a gas station in Washburn, about 25 miles from here. I’m not sharing this information to promote gambling -- I’m illustrating a point about participation. While your odds of winning a lottery jackpot are very slim, I guarantee you that there is a 100% chance that this man wouldn't have won anything if he hadn’t bought that lottery ticket. You can’t win if you don’t play.  

The same thing is true of our learning...You can’t win if you don’t play. What does that mean?  To me, it means two things: 1) ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT. Students need to be at school - every day, on time, so they won’t miss out on important opportunities for learning; and, 2) PARTICIPATE!  At North Tama, we have so many wonderful ways for students to extend their learning beyond the classroom.  I challenge every student to take advantage of North Tama’s unique “Plus One” days. This is an opportunity that students in most school districts simply don’t have. I also challenge every 7-12 student to participate in in at least one sport, at least one club or organization, and at least one fine arts activity. Students that participate in activities are more likely to have higher academic achievement, less likely to drop out of school, and more likely to become involved members of their communities as adults.

Parents can make a big difference in a child’s education by doing their part to encourage good attendance and participation. They can encourage their children to participate in opportunities like “Plus One” days and extracurriculars, and provide the necessary transportation, resources, and support. While all students may need to be absent from school on occasion, parents can also play a critical role in ensuring good attendance. Here are some tips for good attendance provided by the National Association of Elementary School Principals:

1. Plan ahead when scheduling vacations. Take a look at North Tama’s school calendar – there are several three-day weekends and even longer breaks during the year that will allow family fun without having to miss school. Also, plan ahead when it comes to parents and siblings’ appointments – does every child in the family need to go if the appointment is just for one family member?
2. Prioritize your schedule. Many times, doctor appointments can be scheduled to take place in the hours immediately following school or on Saturdays. At minimum, appointments can usually be made so that a student misses a half-day of school rather than a full day.
3. Have a regular bedtime. Establish an evening routine that includes time for reading and other activities that help your child to become calm and relaxed before bed.
4. Teach organizational skills so your child can get out the door with the proper materials, homework, etc.
5. Encourage healthy habits. Make sure your child has breakfast and nutritious snacks. Emphasize hand washing and cleanliness each and every day.

I hope you find these tips to be helpful. Do you have another tip to share, or a comment about this article? You are welcome to visit my blog at http://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my Star Clipper columns and leave comments if you wish. I also occasionally post pictures and other content that is not submitted to the paper or additional information that expands upon what was submitted to the paper. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill.  We at North Tama truly appreciate parents’ efforts in teaching their children the importance of good attendance and participation. Let’s make every day count!