A Message from the Department of Teaching and Learning

Bellingham Public Schools is working hard to ensure every student can learn and grow by being at school regularly. Being at school is important for learning, building friendships and participating in the school community. We want to support student success through attendance and engagement in school.

As with many school districts across our state and nation, we are seeing a rise in absenteeism, and our formerly strong attendance rates are lower than before the pandemic.

We know there are lots of reasons why kids may miss school, and we want to partner with our students and families to increase the number of days our students are in school so they continue to grow academically and socially. We love our students and we want them here as much as possible.

Why does attendance matter? Info to support families

• Missing just two days a month adds up to 20 days per year, or 10%.
• Missing 10% of each school year across 13 years of K-12 education means a child will have missed nearly 1 ½ years of school. This equates to learning loss and could impact graduating on time.
• School is essential for students to build friendships and learn how to be in community with their peers and adults.
• Absences can signal problems like disengagement, academic struggles or bullying, and therefore it is important for us to pay attention to and work together to address the root causes.

How parents/guardians can help

• Follow our health guidelines so that you know when to keep your child home due to illness and when to send them to school.
• If your student is absent, contact your child’s main office and/or attendance administrative assistant, or excuse the absence when you receive your ParentSquare notification.
• Reach out to us if your student is struggling to attend or if your family is having challenges getting your child to school, such as transportation difficulties or other family hardships. We are here to help.
• If your child is missing school due to anxiety, you are not alone. Our staff wants to partner with families and students affected by anxiety so we can help. We have also compiled a list of resources for families on our Mental Health and Wellness webpage.

Tips for students and families

We have learned from many of our families that these tips can help:

• Set a consistent bedtime and morning routine.
• Prepare for school the night before, ensuring your child gets enough rest and is ready for the next day.
• Talk to your child about the importance of school and attendance.
• Keep track of the number of days your child has missed on a calendar in a visible location in the home. Days can add up quickly. Aim to keep absences to nine days or less in a year.
• Schedule appointments before or after school, or at the very beginning or end of the day to minimize the amount of time your student will be out of school.
• Schedule family travel during district scheduled days off. See our calendar webpage to plan for scheduled breaks this year and in future school years.
• Communicate with your child’s teacher, the front office or the school counselor, about any concerns.
• Encourage after-school activities like sports and clubs. When students are involved in activities at school, it often motivates them to attend and be connected.

If you have questions or concerns about your child or attendance, please contact your principal or teacher.