Attendance is important because students are more likely to succeed in academics when they attend school consistently. It’s difficult for the teacher and the class to build their skills and progress if a large number of students are frequently absent. These absences correlate with reading difficulties and poor attendance patterns in later years. One California study found that only 17 percent of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64 percent of those with good attendance

According to the National Center for Student Engagement, schools are most effective in achieving high attendance rates when parents, school leaders and community members work together to focus on reducing absences and truancy, and keeping kids in schools. 

Orrenmaa begins at 8:45am, students should be arriving at school no later than 8:35am. If your student is going to be arriving late, please remember to come into the office with your student, to sign them in. If your student is going to be absent, please call the office at (951) 358-1625 or email Sandra Macias at sandra.macias@alvordschools.org to report the absence. Or, you can fill out an VERIFICATION OF ABSENCE directly on our website.

If your student has a medical/dental appointment, please provide the office with a note from the doctor’s office to excuse the late arrival, absence or early dismissal. Please bring your student to school before or after their appointment, if possible. Every minute in the classroom counts!