Attending school regularly has a direct link to graduation and student success

PINELLAS COUNTY — Pinellas County Schools, in collaboration with the Juvenile Welfare Board and other community groups, is continuing its campaign to stress the importance of students showing up to school, on time, each day.

Here are a few facts to help parents learn more and understand the importance of regular attendance:

  • Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school. Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read and can  drastically affect a student’s academic success.

  • Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.

  • Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.

  • 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.

  • Students should miss no more than nine days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.

  • Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.

  •  By sixth grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

  •  By ninth grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than eighth-grade test scores.

  •  Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job.

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District to hold resource fair for PCS families

The PCS Office of Strategic Partnerships will host a districtwide Family Resource Fair 9-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 13 at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental School. The fair will be an opportunity for Pinellas County Schools families to learn about, interact with and gain valuable information from a variety of community resources in one location.

There will be more than 30 agencies participating, including Pinellas County Health Department, Housing Authority, City Municipalities, Pinellas County Government, afterschool and child care agencies, Juvenile Welfare Board, colleges and universities and more. For more information email Sheila Kane: kanes@pcsb.org or Dr. Valerie Brimm: kanes@pcsb.org.

2018 Fall Parent Academy Workshop Catalog

Parent Academy workshops focus on three key pillars: student achievement, parent advocacy and personal growth. Parents will have opportunities to participate in webinars and attend face-to-face sessions. The mission of Parent Academy is to provide parents, families and the community with the necessary tools and skills to support students academically, socially, and emotionally, while building a cornerstone to a healthier and safe community.

For more information on the workshop schedules and how to register, visit the pcsb.org/parentacademy

ESE College, Career & Life Fair for high school students with disabilities

Pinellas County Schools will be holding the ESE College, Career & Life Fair for high school students with disabilities 6 -7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Pinellas Park High School, 6305 118th Ave N. The event provides information about financial aid, career training, job skills, college, military opportunities, supported living and additional resources.

Learn more at www.pcsb.org/esefair. If you have questions or need a sign language interpreter, contact Jayme Joslyn at 727-588-6000 ext. 5079.

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