Thursday, September 22, 2022 Volume 17 Issue 2
The theme this year for the entire Thurgood Marshall Community is "Show Up”. Showing up matters at the individual level and at the community level. We have all lost much during the Covid-19 pandemic. Students, families, and staff have all faced overwhelming stressors in the past 2.5 years. Community matters now more than ever. Community is how we will all heal. If we are to recover some of these Covid-19 losses, the first step must be showing up. Students must be present and actively engaged in learning. We need families in partnership with educators. Together we will make a difference.
Research has shown that chronic absences for students have more than doubled during the pandemic at the national level. Current Thurgood Marshall data demonstrates this same significant increase in chronic absenteeism right here in our own school. Missing more than 1 school day a month translates into chronic absenteeism. We know that students who are chronically absent miss out on a significant amount of instruction, learning, and social development. This can have a lasting negative impact upon the student across the school years.
Some things that help prevent chronic absences:
Routines: Daily attendance routines, created at home and in school, can reduce stress for students and families and create a sense of safety and security, especially after chaotic transitions. Home routines include set bed times, packing lunches and back packs the night before, laying out clothes for the next day, etc.
Engagement: Being in school helps students to get to know peers, teachers and school staff, and to create trusting relationships that motivate students to participate in learning. Help your child get involved. Reach out to their teacher or Ms. Matsui, school counselor, if you think your child might need support in building relationships at school.
Access to Resources: Schools help students and families gain access to basic resources such as meals, physical and mental health services, and fun enrichment activities including sports, clubs, music, afterschool and summer programs. If you need help with the basics including housing, access to food or clothing for your child, reach out to Danny Hawkins, Family Support Worker. Ms. Matsui can help with access to mental health services. Consider signing your student up for before and after school enrichment classes offered by the Friends of Thurgood Marshall Elementary.
Learning: Learning is most meaningful when it is active, social, and allows students to apply concepts to real life situations. Showing up to school regularly helps students engage in learning that builds proficiency in reading and math that will help them to graduate from high school. If you have questions, reach out to your student’s teacher.
We are here for your child. Reach out with questions or concerns. Together we can figure it out.
This article was prepared by our former Assistant Principal Ms. Lorow.
Thurgood Marshall Elementary Picture Days are scheduled for Monday, October 3 and Tuesday, October 4
Yuen Lui Studio will photograph individual portraits of students and staff
Families can save on shipping and preorder photos here: 2022-23 Thurgood Marshall Elementary Picture Days 10/3, 4
Print preorders will be shipped to the school and distributed to students at school within three weeks after the picture day
Digital preorders will be sent via email from no-reply@imagequix.com within three weeks after the picture day (use "no-reply@imagequix.com " to search your inbox/spam folders if you don't see the email come through)
Photos will be available to view after the bulk order is placed (about a week after picture day) -- families can view and order photos using their student's school ID number -- these print orders are shipped directly to students' homes (+ a shipping fee) within 10-14 business days after the order is placed; digital images will be sent via email from no-reply@imagequix.com to the address provided within 10-14 business days after the order is placed
Retakes and Class Group Photos are scheduled for Tuesday, November 8
For questions, please contact customerservice@yuenluischools.com
