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Parent Letter

We need your help! 

The community desperately needs to equip its future generations with skills to improve the life expectancies and achievements of its people. 

Our mission is to educationally prepare ­each­ student for success. 

To do this, we need your help.  Attendance is a clear predictor of a student’s grades and ability to graduate.  Our school has a terrible attendance rate of ____%.  The answer is not with truant officers.  The answer is with you – the parents and family.  We desperately need each of you to begin stressing the importance of school attendance. 

It is very difficult for the student to make up their schoolwork, particularly if an important sequential (one lesson that builds on another) learning step was covered during your child’s absence. 

Even though we make every effort to help a student “catch up” with the academics covered while absent, they will miss the most important learning experience and teacher, plus the comments and questions of their fellow students.  This is where critical and thoughtful thinking is developed. 

Absences should never be due to a shopping trip, staying up late the previous night, a sports game, boredom, or to avoid a test.  Speak often about the importance of attendance.  Ask your children what career goals they have. 

Another way you can help is to frequently speak about wanting your child to graduate and to go to college.  State your pride in their schoolwork.  Over and over, repeat the importance of school attendance.  “I don’t want you falling behind”. 

We do not want any of our students missing this very important part of learning.  We do not want your child falling behind.  Once behind, many students get frustrated and give up.  We lose the creative genius of your child.  The Nation needs your child to run and lead its future operations.  School attendance will determine your child’s future.

The “low-down” about why you should teach your child to always show respect to their teacher(s)

Fact:  Your child needs good grades to graduate or enter college or a trade school.

Next:  If you were a teacher, how would you grade a child who cusses at you?

You cannot be culturally respectful of the culture and then violate two of the Indian culture’s primary rules.

1. Always show respect to elders and teachers
2. Cussing is not the Indian way

Now ask yourself the question, “How would you grade a student who always treated you with respect versus a child who disrespects and cusses at you?”

No More Trashing My Family 

• I promise that I will avoid critical comments about my spouse and children.

• No more putdowns like “dummy”, “stupid”, etc.

Notice to Your Child 

I am going to change.  I am going to improve my parenting.  I have four major responsibilities to you: 

• Protect and feed you 

• Educate you about our spirituality, culture and traditions

• Make sure you receive a good education for your future

• Tell you, demonstrate and show you my love for you.