Administrators Message
On behalf of the staff at Prince Arthur Community School I would like to welcome you to the 2018-2019 school year! We hope you had a great summer!
During our 2018-2019 journey, we wish to continue to enhance our partnerships between parents, guardians, teachers and community members. At Prince Arthur School, teachers, staff and parents do an excellent job working together to create a cooperative, nurturing and respectful learning environment that honor’s diversity and inspires academic success. We greatly value and honor these positive working relationships.
Our staff believes relationships with children are at the core of everything we do. We want our students to know that we love and care for them, be believe in them, we know that they can do difficult things and that we know they can lean into struggle and overcome big challenges. You will see evidence of this message time and time again throughout the year!
At Prince Arthur, we expect students to do their best work at all times. It doesn’t mean everyone has to be perfect, it simply means students are required to strive to reach their greatest potential. The staff will do our best to encourage and guide each child so they may experience social, and academic success. As a school community, we are determined to build positive and effective work habits.
Our goal this year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly. Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.
We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school, regardless of the reason, it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent, which means missing 20 or more days over the course of an entire school year.
Research shows:
- Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
- By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
- By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.
Absences can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month!!
Clearly going to school regularly matters!
We don’t want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged. Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives on time. Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
- Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick
- Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
- Talk to Mental Health, teachers or administrators for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.
- Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
Let us know how we can best support you and your children so that they can show up for school on time every day. We want your child to be successful in school! If you have any questions or need more information regarding student attendance, please contact your child’s teacher.
You may have noticed we have changed our Letterhead. In doing so, we have added the Treaty 4 Medal to it. The purpose of adding the Treaty Medal is to remind each of us that we are on traditional lands referred to as Treaty 4 Territory and that the city of Moose Jaw is on Treaty 4 Territory; the original lands of the Cree, Ojibwe, Saulteaux, Nakota, Lakota, Dakota and on the homeland of the Metis Nation. We respect and honour the treaties that were made on all territories and we are committed to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous nations in the spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
Let’s make 2018-2019 the best school year ever!
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Mr. D. Osberg
Ms. J. Straub
