Dear Alma del Mar Families,
Welcome to the start of a new school year. As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, we are recommitting to a shared priority that deeply impacts scholar success: strong and consistent school attendance.
At Alma del Mar, our mission is to reinforce a High Demand, High Support culture. That means setting high expectations for our scholars while providing the support they need to meet them. Attendance is a key part of this vision.
When scholars are in school consistently, they are better able to access rigorous instruction, form strong relationships, and grow into the responsible, committed scholars we know they can be.
Scholars who miss 10% or more of the school year (18 days total) are considered chronically absent and are at risk for retention. Our goal is to prevent that by stepping in early and staying connected with you throughout the year.
Our team of dedicated staff is here to support you and your scholar to ensure they receive the best education possible. A key indicator of success is attendance.
What Families Can Expect This Year
You may hear from us more often if your child has missed several days. This outreach is part of our commitment to working closely with families to understand what might be getting in the way of attendance and to offer support early.
We will be recognizing scholars who demonstrate strong attendance. This could include individual and classroom shout-outs, small incentives, and opportunities to take on leadership roles.
If a scholar begins to miss more school than expected, especially when absences are unexcused, we will offer additional support. This may include:
- A meeting with the family to understand needs and next steps
- A tailored Attendance Support Plan created with your input
- Ongoing check-ins and referrals to resources
Above all, please know that our first priority is supporting families. If attendance challenges come up, we will work together to find solutions. This may include connecting you with our Family Engagement Team, school counselors, or other community resources to make sure your scholar has what they need to succeed.
When Attendance Remains a Concern After Support
If a scholar is at high risk for chronic absenteeism, especially after support plans and interventions have been put in place, the school may take additional steps to ensure the scholar’s right to an education is protected. These steps may include:
- Submitting a Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) petition to the Juvenile Court and/or 51A with DCF for scholars who continue to miss school without valid excuse
- Notifying families of possible retention due to missed instructional time from excessive absences or tardiness
These steps are used only when necessary, after multiple efforts to partner with the family and provide support. Our priority is always to work together to remove barriers and help every scholar attend school regularly and thrive.
Sincerely,
Janelle Engerman
Director of Culture