Stay on the Right Track with a Mid-Year Attendance Review
The school year is almost halfway over, and the end of the calendar year is near. It is a natural time to pause and plan.
Take this opportunity to sit down with your child for a mid-year review. Discuss how the first half of the year went and set goals for the remainder.
This is also a time to assess your middle schooler’s attendance record. Did your child attend school every day—except in the case of illness or family emergency? If so, congratulations! Encourage your child to keep up the good work for the rest of the year and beyond. Regular attendance is a strong predictor of success in school.
If your child’s attendance has been less than ideal, now is the time to address it constructively:
· Remind your child that you expect attendance in every class.
· Prioritize the need for rest, nutrition, exercise and health safety measures so your child can stay in school.
· Consider the reasons you take your child out of school. Is it possible to make future appointments outside school hours?
· Establish clear consequences for skipping classes. Let your middle schooler know that skipping school erodes your trust.
Reprinted with permission from the December 2025 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® newsletter. Copyright © 2025 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.