Letter from principal - excessive absences (FCPS)

[Anonymous]

So sorry, OP. I had a child like this-ears, strep, non-stop. Tonsil out did help but literature is mixed on that step.

Virginia has tied school monies, I believe, to attendance. All the local public schools have tightened up on attendance for this reason.

Try not to take it personally. I'm sure you were alarmed by your child's recurrent illnesses. Third year academics take second seat when your child is sick, not to mention infection risk to the class. A brief note from the doctors should suffice unless Ms. Rachet is the attendance recorder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I would probably follow up just in case there are future absences. Know the school is only doing as required..

required by who?

[Anonymous]

required by who?

Probably by some kind of regulation. Did you pay attention to Relisha Rudd story? She missed lots of school and no one followed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's probably a form letter triggered by a certain # of absences. As long as your kid isn't falling behind academically now, I wouldn't worry about it.

This. They are probably required to send that out. As long as you have confirmed excused absences, and are in contact with the teachers and they feel your kid not falling behind, then I wouldn't worry.

This. Hope she gets completely well soon, OP !

[Anonymous]

Get a second, maybe a third opinion about removing tonsils surgery. My cousin was on the tail end of the big wave of "getting your tonsils out" generation. He now has undiagnosed but predictable throat problems every winter, and he thinks it's because of it.

How are strep and tonsils related?

I would call the principal to explain the excused absences. You don't want her to fail a grade, make sure there isn't some kind of ratio of # of absences = failing a grade.

[Anonymous]

Anecdotally, I had strep throat constantly, had my tonsils out at 6, during a "leave them in" period, and haven't had a sore throat since. It's surgery, which can be dangerous. But in my case it made a tremendous positive difference.

[Anonymous]

Why is she getting recurring strep? Is she around young children a lot?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So sorry, OP. I had a child like this-ears, strep, non-stop. Tonsil out did help but literature is mixed on that step.

Virginia has tied school monies, I believe, to attendance. All the local public schools have tightened up on attendance for this reason.

Try not to take it personally. I'm sure you were alarmed by your child's recurrent illnesses. Third year academics take second seat when your child is sick, not to mention infection risk to the class. A brief note from the doctors should suffice unless Ms. Rachet is the attendance recorder.

I got strep off and on for three years, coincidentally, the same three years that I volunteered (only once a month!) in a nursery. The minute I stopped, the strep went away!

[Anonymous]

Op you did the right thing keeping her home when she's sick. It's not your fault. Ds used to be in a title 1 school and they sent me a letter about absences. Ds is also in 3rd grade this year & has missed about as many days as your dd, but no letter this year. No longer at the title one school. Are you by any chance at a title one school? The principals of title one schools get harassed and threatened when students miss too many days. They threaten to with hold funding that they desperately need at these schools.

[Anonymous]

I teach at a Title One school and these letters are automatically sent out once you reach a certain # of absences. Have you sent it notes for all of these absences? If you have, call the principal to make sure the absences have been coded correctly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is she getting recurring strep? Is she around young children a lot?

She's probably around 3rd graders a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is she getting recurring strep? Is she around young children a lot?

She's probably around 3rd graders a lot.

Yup. My third grader got it several times this year. One of the times the student that gave it to him stated that he had strep & his parents sent him to school anyways. You're supposed to stay home until you've been on antibiotics for 24 hours and fever free 24 hours. If other parents followed these rules my child may have avoided getting it so many times this year.

[Anonymous]

Two weeks is a huge amount of missed time. What were her symptoms that whole time? Did a dr. Say she shouldn't be at school that whole time? Have you missed any other days at all- i.e. Vacation?

[Anonymous]

All students are required to have a certain no. Of school days or they are failed. Call and discuss with principal.

[Anonymous]

Recently I found out that FCPS offers to send teacher to give personal lessons at home for a kid with Pneumonia. It started with an email from class room teacher regarding consecutive absences and when notified that the kid was sick with Pneumonia, the teacher said that the school could provide personal lessons at home.