Superintendent's Office

A Message from the Superintendent

November 6, 2023

Dear South Holland School District 151 Families,

We have now entered the second quarter of the school year. Our students at all levels are learning new skills and demonstrating their amazing talents. At this point in the school year, after school activities and clubs are up and running or beginning soon. Students have taken or are preparing to take their first field trip for the school year, and students and teachers are working toward student growth goals. Consistency is the key to helping students grow.

Families can help their children grow in all subject areas by placing a special emphasis on student attendance. When children miss school, they miss out on instruction, classroom activities, and opportunities to practice their skills. The impact of missing even one or two days per month adds up quickly. When children return from an absence, it can be very difficult for them to catch up even with help from their teachers.

Missing school can cause skill gaps for children at all grade levels. For example, in Kindergarten, children learn best from daily classroom activities, lessons, discussions and routines. When a child misses school, there is no way to make up for what they have missed. In grades 3 – 5, children are introduced to new information and skills each day. A child’s success in learning a new skill is often dependent on having participated in lessons and practice each day.

In middle school, it becomes increasingly difficult to catch up after missing days of school. While our teachers and staff members work hard to help students catch up with lessons they have missed, students learn best when they are in school all day every school day.

It is important that children stay home when they are sick. When children are not sick, it is important that they come to school on time each day. Whenever possible, we ask families to schedule appointments, trips out of town, and other activities for days when children do not have school. Most importantly, please to reach out to your children’s school(s) whenever your child will be absent, and share with the Principal or Assistant Principal when there is an extenuating circumstance that will keep your children out of school.  Teachers and administrators will work to plan for the absence and help your child catch up.

Thank you for all of your support!

Sincerely,

Dr. Teresa Hill

Superintendent of Schools