Dear Lexington Two Families and Staff:
The countdown is on for my favorite time of year! Don’t get me wrong, I love the holidays, and I certainly enjoy a summer break. But for me, these pale to the excitement I still feel, even after all these years as an educator, for the first day of a new school year. Summers around schools are quiet, and I so look forward to seeing them come alive once again with the energy of our students and employees.
At this time of year, I often get asked for advice on what parents and students can do to get off to a great start, and keep it going all year long. Here are three suggestions:
- Attendance: It’s a must, and the research backs it up. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. The National Center of Education Statistics notes on its website, for example, that a recent study found absenteeism in kindergarten was associated with negative first grade learning outcomes, including lower achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge. Absenteeism in these earliest years can lay the groundwork for issues later on, the Center adds, noting students who had greater levels of absenteeism in first grade were more likely to exhibit negative behaviors in later years, and more likely not to graduate. And there are impacts beyond academics: students who are frequently absent miss out on building important relationships with teachers and fellow students, as well as opportunities to participate in the school community. If you have concerns regarding attendance, please talk with your school administrators. Click this link to learn more about district and state requirements on attendance.
- Involvement: A growing body of research shows parent involvement at school improves not only student behavior and attendance but also positively affects student achievement, according to Reading Rockets. Each parent’s schedule varies, so we encourage you to get involved at any level you can: reading at home with your child, discussing their school day, attending family nights or other school events, or volunteering at school. In Lexington Two, our goal is to partner with you in educating your child in a safe and engaging learning environment that prioritizes growth, achievement, leadership, and innovation. Getting involved is a great way to be part of your child’s day and the greater school community.
- Communication: Get to know teacher(s) and other staff members and communicate with them regularly about how your child is doing academically and socially. Ask questions and share any information that may help teachers and staff in working with your child. Look out, too, for communications from the district and your school so you can keep up with important news, dates, and events at your school. In addition, we occasionally send out texts when we need to communicate something quickly with families, such as an early school dismissal for weather or a change in safety response protocols. We typically follow our texts with an email and/or phone call with more detail. We encourage families to check PowerSchool to ensure that the primary contact (mobile) number is correct and that texting is enabled. If you need help checking that information in PowerSchool, please ask a school administrator for guidance.
As this school year begins, our focus will be on helping your child get settled into a new routine and class schedule to ensure a strong start to the year. We are here for you, so please reach out to us anytime with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your support of Lexington Two schools. We’re excited to welcome your child on
Tuesday, August 5, to what we believe will be their best year yet!
Sincerely,
Brenda Hafner, Ed.D.
Superintendent
