September is National Attendance Awareness Month though every school day throughout the year is important.  Your student must be present to win academic success!  For attendance information, see your child's student handbook or check your school's website for an electronic copy of the handbook.  Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.

• Talk about the importance of attendance.  Make the expectation and show your child your good attendance at your work and your life activities.
• Know Monroe County Schools' attendance policies and procedures.  You can find each school's student handbook on the school's website.  Ask questions if you need clarification.
• Stay on top of your child's academic progress.  Check progress reports.  Use the PowerSchool app to get attendance and progress information.  Signup for Remind messages.  Our schools and many individual teachers offer this free texting service.
• Set a regular bed time.  Establish and stick to routines.
• Organize clothing and items to go to school the night before.
• Don't let your child stay home unless he or she is truly sick.  Keep in mind that complaints of a stomach ache may be a sign of anxiety versus a reason to stay home.
• If your child is sick, please take measures to help him or her get well so that the return to school is as swift as possible.
• If your child seems anxious about going to school, please reach out to teachers and counselors so that we can help you and your family.
• Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up.  Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent if you need assistance.
• Avoid medical appointments if at all possible when school is in session.
• Avoid vacations and extended trips during the school year.  Check our website for our school year calendar so that you and your family can plan accordingly.
• If your child is absent from school, we will be calling your contact numbers to make sure that you are aware of this.  Please make sure that your contact information is up-to-date in our student information system.  You can contact your child's school registrar, and she can update your information.
• Looking for ideas to encourage your child to attend school?  Contact our parent coordinators who can help and direct you to community resources as well.

Source:   Adapted from http://www.attendanceworks.org.  

There's an App for That!  Join Monroe County Schools' Instructional Technology Coach Ronnie Shipman this month for parent training sessions on useful apps for your smartphone or tablet.  Mr. Shipman will be covering educational tools for your student, and he will also introduce parents to helpful apps for keeping track of your child's school work or saving money for the family budget.  The first session was held at TGScott Elementary School last week. 


The sessions remaining this month are:

For more information, contact your school's parent coordinator.  Brandi Pye serves KBSutton Elementary and Monroe County Middle.  Ginger Rogers-Maddox serves Hubbard Elementary TGScott Elementary.

If you can't make it to the training sessions, please check out the resources located at the Instructional Technology Services webpage curated by Mr. Shipman.

Join MPHS for their first home game against Lamar County on September 12 at 7:30 p.m.  For the complete football schedule, click here.  To watch MP Fall Sports streamed live,click here for the MPHS National Federal High Schools Network Channel.