Hawthorne Happenings - January
From the desk of Mr. Mahal
And we're back!
As we return to school, our students will work to get back into their good academic habits that they established before break. This is the time when students will really "take off" with their daily learning to make awesome gains. This is a true testament to the tremendous partnership our school has with our families - thank you for your continued support in order for positive growth to happen between home and school!
Dates to remember...
December 23 - January 1 - Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)
January 2 - 3 - District Days (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
January 6 - Students return to school for start of 2nd semester
January 13 - PTO Meeting at 5:30 in Media Center
January 10 - Student Report Cards will be sent home in Friday folders
"Peter Pan" with Prairie Fire Theater
Thursday Morning Choir
Drop Off/Pick Up Update
A brief reminder for dropping off in the morning - please do not park your vehicle or drop your student(s) off in the middle of the street when dropping off on Sheridan. If you do have to come in the building, please park on Sheridan past the blue handicap sign so the curb area prior to that is open for vehicles to quickly drop their student(s) off.
The afternoon pickup is also going well. We continue to try to help students being picked up get to their car quickly so there is also minimal parking happening on Sheridan. The more parents/family can stay in their car and then pull up to the loading area the better in allowing the "drive thru" effect to take place.
Want to get involved at Hawthorne?
The PTO values the community that we serve and we want to hear from you. Help us to be the true voice of the families at Hawthorne Elementary School. Please join us every second Monday at 5:30 PM to share your ideas. Hope to see you there! Child care is provided.
The more you know
According to multiple studies, missing several days of school significantly reduces the likelihood that students will graduate from high school. With attendance a crucial factor to keeping kids on the right path to graduation, Attendance Works has substantial information on attendance and the impact on student achievement.
Below is some of the research below on why attendance matters.
Start Strong
Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict frequent absences later in the school year. Nearly half of all students that missed more than two days of school in September went on to miss almost a month of school.
Chronic Absences
An estimated 5 to 7.5 million students in the United States miss almost a month of school every year. This adds up to over a year missed by the time of graduation.
Early Absences Lead to Attendance Issues in Later Grades
Absenteeism starts early. One in 10 kindergartners and first graders are considered to be “chronically absent.” Research shows students who miss 10 percent of school, or two days per month, show negative academic progress. In some schools, that adds up to 18 days a school year and is considered to be chronic absence.
Third Grade Reading Level
Poor attendance can keep children from reading proficiently by the end of third grade, which is shown to negatively affect their chances of graduating on time.
Dropout Indicator
By sixth grade, a chronically absent student is shown to have a significantly higher chance of dropping out of high school.
Excused Absences Hurt Too
Excused absences are just as negative as unexcused ones. Suspensions add additional missed time in the classroom, which in turn increases the dropout risk.
At Risk Students are at Risk for Absence
Students from low-income families are four times more likely to be chronically absent. Reasons for this are often out of the student’s control, such as unreliable transportation, unstable housing, and a lack of access to quality health care.
Every Minute Matters
If a student is 10 minutes late to school each day, this adds up to missing more than 33 hours of class time. A student with a 90 percent attendance average for Kindergarten through 12th grade will miss over a year of accumulated time in the classroom.
See more research on the importance of attendance here: http://www.attendanceworks.org/research
Hawthorne Elementary
Email: john.mahal@alschools.org
Website: https://www.alschools.org/elementary-schools/hawthorne-elementary
Location: 1000 East Hawthorne Street, Albert Lea, MN, USA
Phone: (507) 379-6490
Twitter: @HawthorneTigers