Summer is a time of renewal for teachers, staff, and administrators. It is one of the few life endeavors where each year is a new beginning. The new school year brings different challenges and renewed energy infused in each classroom. Students return to us rested and ready to open new books, meet new teachers and renew friendships. There are some district employees who work all summer to ready the schools for children and teachers. It is truly an organizational effort to open the doors ready for all the magic that happens in the classrooms of our district.

The Gustine Unified School District will be ready for students on Aug. 18.  It is our goal for the 2008-09 school year to increase the student attendance. Students learn more when they are in school. If a student is ill, the best place is home. We are hoping to decrease non-emergency absences. It is our desire that students come to school because it is a positive environment where skills and attitudes are taught and developed so students become productive members of the community. Our district mission statement says we are, “Preparing students for the future…today!”

Parents are important partners in the education of our students. We need the home-school partnership to be strong. We want to work together to get every child to school every day on-time.

Here are tips for parents to improve school attendance, borrowed from the Kern County Office of Education:

No television on school mornings.

Teach children to set and use their own alarm clock.

Choose clothes the night before.

Have schoolwork and lunch ready and laid out, ready to go.

Bathe or shower in the evening.

Walk to school or the bus stop with another child who is always on time.

Got to bed 10 minutes early and get up 10 minutes earlier.

Help your child relax before bedtime with a story, by reading, instead of the stimulation of television.

When your child is ready for school on time, be sure to let him or her know how much this helps the whole family.

The Gustine Unified School District is preparing the classrooms for our students.  Teacher and administrators are preparing the curriculum and content students will learn.  We are anticipating a year where all students are in school every single day they are well!  Parents, you are our partners to achieve this goal!

Gail McWilliams is the Superintendent of Schools for the Gustine Unified School District.

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