March 2025

Dear 6th grade students and families,

Middle school students are gradually guided toward accepting more and more responsibility for managing themselves as the years progress.  One important way you can become more accountable for your own success in school is by closely monitoring your absences. No matter how much make up work you complete, it is never an adequate substitution for being present in class during formal instruction of a lesson by your teacher.  Of course, we all get sick sometimes, and there are certainly times when you should stay home from school on account of illness (for example, if you have a fever). However, there are also other times when we might not feel quite 100%, but we should try to get up for school anyway (for example, if you have a slight headache or stomach ache).  I know these decisions can sometimes be difficult, so I encourage you to contact me if you're worried that absenteeism is becoming a problem for you.

Regardless, any student who is absent from a class or from school for any part of the day is expected to seek out the assignments they missed.  You can do so in a number of ways. First, every student is encouraged to have at least one homework buddy, a reliable student who can be called at home to ask about missed work.  Also, all teachers maintain web pages and Google Classrooms that can be checked for long-term projects, upcoming tests/quizzes, or even nightly assignments.  Finally, and most importantly, you must approach each of your teachers upon your return to school to inquire about any outstanding assignments.

Working together, I'm sure we can maintain an attendance record that will help you be the most successful middle schooler you can be!

All the best,

Ms. Riehl :)

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected].