A Note from the Director...
LA News for Students and Families
School Attendance is Important
Did You Know...
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
• Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
• Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.
• Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job.
Source: attendanceworks.org
Attendance is a Community Issue
Make Attendance a Priority
• Help your student maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Try not to schedule dental/medical appointments during the school day.
• Don’t let your child stay home unless truly sick. Complaints of headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety.
Source: attendanceworks.org
LA Attendance for August 2018 (through 8/24):
9th grade: 96.8%
10th grade: 91.48%
11th grade: 82.72%
12th grade: 80.48%
Overall: 83.72%
Our goal is for students to have 90% attendance in order to achieve success!
If you are interested in your student's attendance %, please call or email Mr. Krause at Mark.Krause@lps53.org.
Communicate with the School
- If your child is going to be absent for any reason (whole day, partial day), call Mrs. Straws preferably by 8:30 AM (736-5470) to notify the school. Once you call to let us know what time your child needs to leave, your student will be called down to the office at the appropriate time to check out. Without parent permission, a student may not leave the building. Unfortunately, if a student leaves school without permission, they are not allowed to return that day and are considered truant.
- For each class hour of the day, letters are sent home if a student is absent 5, 8 and/or 11 times. Any student that has 11 absences (regardless whether they are excused or unexcused) in a class will need to appeal for credit. In short, this means that students may have passed a class but will not earn credit for it because they have not acquired the "seat time" per the state of Missouri.
- Talk to the school if you notice sudden changes in behavior. These could be tied to something going on at school.
- Check on your child’s attendance to be sure absences are not piling up. This information is available in PowerSchool. Stop by the school to see Mrs. Streu, Counselor, if you need assistance with PowerSchool access.
- Ask for help from school officials, after school programs, other parents, or community agencies if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. It takes a village, and we are here to help!
Help Your Teen Stay Engaged
• Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
• Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
• Encourage meaningful after school activities, including sports, hobbies, and clubs.
About us
Email: melissa.norris@lps53.org
Website: lps53.org/la
Location: 1115 Blackberry Drive, Liberty, MO, United States
Phone: (816)-736-5470
Facebook: facebook.com/libacademy/
Twitter: @LibAcademy