Regular school attendance is vital for providing your child with a solid foundation for a happier and more successful future. Truancy is an unexcused absence from school. Truancy has been linked to trouble with the law, gang involvement, low self-esteem, and alcohol and drug use/abuse. Students who are truant often fail to earn the necessary credits for graduation and drop out of school. This places them at a severe disadvantage because they lack prerequisite skills needed to gain employment and develop into happy, successful contributing members of the community.

Parents have the legal responsibility to ensure their children attend school. As the school counselor, I help parents and students overcome any obstacles that are inhibiting or standing in the way of regular attendance. These obstacles are diverse and may be anything from classroom difficulties, learning concerns, family problems, divorce, money issues, troubles with peers, harassment, poor social skills, to mental illness. School staff and community programs can help children and families cope with these problems and improve school attendance.

The St. Francis School District values your children. Our mission is to empower all students to reach their unique capabilities, contribute to our community, compete in a global society by providing diverse and challenging opportunities to learn through the collaborative efforts of students, families, the community, and teachers. One of the strategies identified to accomplish this mission is to “work effectively with our disengaged students and those who are impacted negatively by social influence, which are interfering with learning in order to improve attendance, achievement and the graduation rate.” If your child is not attending school regularly, seek the help of your school principal, teacher, counselor and social worker. Early intervention is the key to helping students overcome attendance issues and become healthy, positive and productive members of our community. Feel free to contact me at any time for assistance.