The Importance of Elementary School Attendance

At Orchard Elementary, we believe that every day counts when it comes to your child’s education. Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in a student’s success, both academically and socially. When students miss school, they miss valuable learning opportunities, and even just a few absences can add up and create gaps in their education.

Why Attendance Matters

• Learning Continuity: Every lesson builds on the one before. When students attend school regularly, they can stay on track, master concepts, and meet grade-level expectations.
• Social Development: Regular attendance helps students form and maintain friendships, develop communication skills, and feel a sense of belonging in the classroom.
• Building Responsibility: Establishing consistent attendance early helps students develop lifelong habits of responsibility and reliability, preparing them for success in future academic and professional environments.
• Closing the Gap: Students who miss more than 10% of the school year—just two days per month—are more likely to struggle academically and fall behind their peers.

How Families Can Help

• Set a Routine: Establish consistent bedtime and morning routines to help your child feel prepared for school each day.
• Schedule Wisely: Try to plan vacations, doctor’s appointments, and other commitments outside of school hours whenever possible.
• Communicate: Let your child’s teacher or the school office know if there are any challenges impacting your child’s attendance, and we’ll work together to find solutions.

Reporting Absences

We understand that sometimes absences are unavoidable. If your child is sick or needs to miss school, please report the absence as soon as possible.
Attendance Line: 209-552-3100
Email: trodarte@sylvan.k12.ca.us or dmoniz@sylvan.k12.ca.us

Attendance Flyers and Resources

Check out our Attendance Flyers and Resources section for tips and tools to help ensure your child attends school regularly. You’ll find:

Printable resources with tips for improving attendance.

Information on the importance of attendance and how absences affect learning.
District policies on attendance and excused absences.

Monthly Attendance Goals and Challenges

To make attendance fun and rewarding, we set monthly attendance goals and challenges for our students!

• Monthly Attendance Goal: 96%
• Challenge for Students:
  • August/September: Otter Pop Party
  • October/November: 10 Minutes Extra Recess with a Bubble Party
  • January/February: Hot Chocolate Party
  • March/April: Glow Dance Party
  • May: Random Drawings
• Incentives and Prizes: Students who meet attendance goals each week are entered into a drawing to win prizes such as a certificate and a coupon for a free treat
• Spotlight on Attendance Champions: Each week, we’ll highlight the (1) Top Attending K-2 and (1) Top Attending 3-5 class to celebrate their commitment to showing up and shining bright!

Let’s Work Together!

We are here to support you and your child in making attendance a priority. If you have concerns about your child’s attendance, transportation, or other challenges that may prevent them from attending regularly, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can work to ensure that every student has access to a quality education and the support they need to succeed.

Every Day Counts—Let’s SOAR Together!

Thank you for your partnership in helping your child reach their full potential.

Contact the School Office for More Information:

Phone: (209) 552-3100
Email: trodarte@sylvan.k12.ca.us, dmoniz@sylvan.k12.ca.us, ebenbow@sylvan.k12.ca.us
Office Hours: 7:30am - 4:00 pm