We hope that all our Downey Unified students enjoyed their holiday celebrations and time with loved ones. While we are truly grateful for the opportunity to take a break from our normal routines, we are so excited to be back in the swing of things at school.
The beginning of the new semester offers the opportunity for a fresh start, and we want to take time to remind our students of the importance of establishing healthy attendance routines. Making sure that you are at school will not only help you learn more but can also help you improve your behavior, develop essential life habits, and increase the likelihood of graduating from high school.
Below are ways you can create an effective attendance routine to put into practice for the remainder of the school year.
Establish routines
Having consistent, structured morning and evening routines helps reduce stress and anxiety and allow you to feel more comfortable because you know what to expect each morning and evening.
Get clothes and backpacks ready the night before
Choosing what you are going to wear and packing your backpack the night before each school day helps reduce rushing in the morning and creates a mindset that already anticipates going to school the next day.
Make efforts to stay healthy
While some illnesses are not always preventable, you can make large efforts to stay healthy throughout the school year by eating nutritious foods, keeping an active lifestyle, and getting an adequate amount of sleep (at least eight hours are recommended for teens) each night.
Complete assigned work
It’s important to stay on top of your assignments and not procrastinate. Doing so will help ensure that you don’t miss school to avoid the consequences of not turning in your work on time.
Communicate with your teachers
If you have a situation or sickness that causes you to miss time at school, email your teacher(s) to see if there are assignments and/or activities that you can complete while at home in order to remain on track and not fall behind.
Create backup plans
Sometimes unexpected situations pop up that can throw off your and/or your family’s routine. In the event that you cannot get to school on your own or cannot be dropped off by a family member, have a friend or trusted individual (such as an aunt or uncle, older sibling, trusted family friend or neighbor, etc.) who can help get you to school when such circumstances arise.
At Downey Unified, we want to support you any way we can and are here to provide any additional information or resources you need. Talk to your teachers, school counselors, or school administrators if you have any questions or need further assistance. We truly value all of our students and want to ensure you have a strong finish to what is sure to be a memorable school year.