" WESTCHESTER COUNTY YOUTH BUREAU Why is regular school attendance so critical for academic success? My goal as county executive is to encourage every student in Westchester County to attend school regularly and on time. Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success, starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older, families still play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life. My message to students is that if they develop their minds, they can be whatever they want to be in life-but success starts with a well-rounded education. To build character and good study habits, it’s important that students work hard and learn all that they can each and every day they are in school. In order to give students incentive I created the ACE Challenge. The ACE Challenge is a way to encourage Westchester’s students in grades 6-12 to do their very best in the classroom from the beginning of the school year to the very end. If you win the challenge you will end up with a splendid academic record, a certificate of recognition from me and a season’s pass to Playland. Rob Astorino County Executive " Here’s why: Students with better attendance are more successful. • When a lesson is missed, your child will have difficulty with lessons later on. • Children need to practice skills. Absent students lose practice time. • Many skills needed for school success can only be learned at school: how to participate in a class discussion, how to learn from other student’s questions, and how to follow directions and school rules. YOUR KIDS’ SCHOOL ATTENDANCE MATTERS A Guide for Parents • When going to school is your child’s routine, later on your child will be less likely to cut classes or miss school. • Students who are absent a lot can lose credit, be denied summer school, take longer to graduate and drop out. • Attending school regularly can help your child avoid other problems like teenage pregnancy, drug use or juvenile crime. TIP: Worried about your child cutting classes or skipping school? Check attendance with your child’s teacher or guidance counselor. To register for the ACE Challenge go to westchestergov.com/ace Students with better attendance really are more successful. Get your kids to school every day. Ready for the challange? Register for the ACE Challenge by January 31 westchestergov.com/ace Westchester County Youth Bureau (WCYB) 914-995-2745 or your local Youth Bureaus Great Programs for Children and Teens Mt. Vern on 914-665 -2344 White P lains 914-422 -1378 Peekskil 914-734 l -8418 New Ro chelle 914-654 -2044 Attendance Matters is a program in collaboration with Safer Communities Initiative partners. nt, s , employme s d e e n family need r ic u s o a y b e h ic it w rv Help r any se s, therapy o e u s is h lt a e h free, This is a ys a week. a d 7 , 1 m p 21 l 8 Dia m to d Way. 479 from 8 a by the Unite d e or 800-899-1 id v ro p l service confidentia l et-help.shtm uwwp.org/g s/ m n211.org/c www.hudso mised taff compro s a m o fr rt r struggles o Family supp ts who understand you ren mostly of pa ect you and can dir rt s and suppo to resource chester.org Family Ties milytieswest fa 8 3 2 -5 5 9 914-9 s and er for familie lt e h s y c n e Emerg r Westcheste ent of Social Services (DSS) pm children in to 5 artm p :30 am r County De iday, from 8 Fr h g nce/ u Westcheste ro th onday rary-assista o M p , 9 m 9 e 0 /t -2 m 5 o 9 914-9 stergov.c es.westche socialservic ild,-family -assistance m/adult,-ch o .c v o emergency rg e st es.westche socialservic ices tance/ orary-assis rgency-serv p e m m e e /t s/ m e o ic .c -serv stergov es.westche socialservic ervices homeless-s r Medicaid, ies o come famil in w lo r fo nce, Medical care rary assista o p m te , s p food stam ervices and homeless s r foster care fo s e ic rv e s nter prevention l service ce d teens children an au (WCYB) r fo s m ra g Pro Bure unty Youth r Co ureaus Westcheste cal Youth B lo r u o y r o 5 -422-1378 914-995-274 e Plains: 914 -2044 it h W 4 4 3 4 914-665-2 elle: 914-65 Mt. 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Vernon: 8 Yonkers: 07 -5 2 6 -8 4 Peekskill: 91 RESOURCES t with studen Assistance sues advocacy is ices Serv l Advocacy Educationa ocacy.net ta studen dv 3 31 -3 7 4 -3 914 FOR YOUR STUDENT, CHILD & FAMILY YOU CAN’T STAY HOME YOU ARE NOT SICK SCHOOL CALLED... WHY DID YOUMISS CLASS? YOU HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY