February,
2008
Keep Attendance a Priority During Second Half of the School Year
Questions
& Answers
Don’t Forget: Your Rules Shape the Adult Your Teen Becomes
A Word From the Director
Keep Attendance a Priority During Second Half of the
School Year
There is no question that
student achievement goes hand in hand with good attendance. And
research shows that students who attend school between 85 and 100
percent of the time pass tests in reading and math at much higher
rates than students who attend school less than 85-percent of the
time. It makes sense: Students can’t learn if they’re not in the
classroom. Learning builds day by day, and it’s often hard to catch up
on missed lessons. It’s important that your teen keep up his good
attendance habit all year round - especially during the second half of
the school year. It may be difficult for your child to get out of a
warm bed on cold winter mornings, but staying in bed is not an option.
Check your school’s attendance policy for specific details on excused
absences. Most schools consider the following as excused absences:
Illness (usually with a doctor’s note).
Family emergencies (such as a death in the family).
Religious holidays or cultural observances (when the school is
notified in advance).
Avoid letting your teen miss school for medical appointments, work
(school is his priority right now) or family vacations (enjoy these
during summer break and school holidays).
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Questions & Answers
Q:
My daughter wants to pierce her tongue. I am beside myself. She says
it’s her mouth and it’s her right to decide. What can I tell her?
A:
Teens have always looked for ways to drive their parents crazy. From
“flapper” dresses in the roaring twenties to long hair in the sixties,
teens have used fashion to declare their independence. But there is
one difference between those rebellions and tongue piercing. Hair can
be cut. Dress styles change. But a pierced body part can be around
forever.
Have her talk with a doctor or a dentist. There are serious health
issues to consider. Sanitation is critical. Infection at the site of
the piercing is a danger. Blood-borne diseases including Hepatitis B
and tetanus are also a danger.
Another consideration... there is a risk of hitting a blood vessel in
the tongue and causing lots of bleeding. Also, the metal in her mouth
could wear out her teeth as of the barbells rub against the back of
her front teeth and gums.
Then check with the school. Some dress codes do not allow tongue
piercings.
None of that may persuade her, however. So listen to her. Why does she
want to pierce her tongue? Then say, “I’m not convinced that this is a
good decision. Your health is my priority.” Remember, it’s okay to say
no—especially when you have a good reason.
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Don’t Forget: Your Rules Shape the Adult Your Teen
Becomes
Your teen might think he is an
adult, but he’s not - yet. It’s hard to find the balance between the
“right” amount of discipline and the “right” amount of independence.
You don’t want to prevent your teen from growing up, but you also
don’t want to force him to grow up before he’s ready. And you’re
getting tired of debating that point with your teen.
It helps to remember that your
rules shape the adult he’s about to become. He might complain now, but
your discipline is teaching him the skills necessary to thrive in the
real world. So when you feel tempted to relax your rules, if you have
to hear one more time about what “Jason’s parents let Jason do,”
don’t. Remind yourself that you made these rules for a reason: to help
your teen turn into the adult you want him to be.
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