These are form letters, triggered by a certain number of absences. Contact the School to verify it.

It is good that the schools are looking out.

(We got one for excessive tardiness...also in 3rd grade. I still tease DW about that today; it was her fault).

Obviously the school just wants you to send a sick child in.

Anyway OP, good luck, keeping a sick child home rather than sending them in when they are contagious is the right thing to do dispute what the bureaucrats and their form letters say.

OP, try not to stress about the school work. she is young. Grades don't meatter. Just make sure she learns what she needs for fourth and don't let worksheets make recoveryharder.

OP, I know this can be a stressful situation. I had one year when my DC was sick a lot. He had a fever for a week, some days 104 even with Motrin. I was stressed because it was viral and couldn't be treated with antibiotics. In addition to that, DC is prone to getting strep, which he had multiple times that year. What I did was any day he had a fever or strep but wasn't completely wiped out, I had him sit in bed and do some school work. Talk to the teacher and explain the situation. Ask her to allow your DC to bring home any work missed so your DC can do it over the weekends. Also, get a grade appropriate workbook and have DC work on it if you feel he/she is behind. Don't stress. A little work on weekends, teacher work days and an hour or so each day over spring break will help. I would definitely contact the principal to make sure those absences were properly recorded. I know deciding about surgery for your child can be stressful. Don't stress about the letter, it's probably a form letter.

How many days did she miss in second grade? First grade?

Contact the school and make sure their records show that they were medical absences. Tell the classroom teacher you are doing this also, and remind her that your child is facing surgery and may miss more days. That's all you can do, OP.

Hope your child gets better soon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not questioning your decisions, but two weeks out for any illness that didn't require hospitalization is a long time.

Yes, it is. And it happens. There are many things out there that don't need hospitalization, but just need care.

My child had pneumonia last year and missed close to two weeks. The cold air really exacerbated his illness and it was VERY cold last winter. He didn't need to be hospitalized for it, but he was very sick for a long time. It was very hard on all of us, missing all of that school and work. Nobody deserves to be judged for that!

Anonymous wrote:Nationally and locally, some Pediatricians are speaking out that increased local poor air quality is contributing to childhood increases in upper respiratory track infections (sinus, throat, including tonsils) as well as asthma.

Think trains, planes and automobiles in the Washington Metropolitan area. Bicyclists get a pass.

Perhaps the state, school and local health departments may wish to read up on this as it may have policy implications.

Not only that, but what about people who smoke in the house. Any of ds' friends that had asthma, most of them had a parent who smoked.

Nationally and locally, some Pediatricians are speaking out that increased local poor air quality is contributing to childhood increases in upper respiratory track infections (sinus, throat, including tonsils) as well as asthma.

Think trains, planes and automobiles in the Washington Metropolitan area. Bicyclists get a pass.

Perhaps the state, school and local health departments may wish to read up on this as it may have policy implications.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not questioning your decisions, but two weeks out for any illness that didn't require hospitalization is a long time.

Yes, it is. And it happens. There are many things out there that don't need hospitalization, but just need care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:22 days OP??? And it's only March. Let's say it takes 3 days to kick strep or a virus. I'm not even including weekends. That means your kid has had 7 of these episodes? Seven??? I'm a mother of a third grader, and my kid got strep twice last year. That seems a bit excessive.

Not OP, but it just looks like you have a healthier child. She is considering surgery to try to help this in the future- what else would you have her do?

Agreed. Can we not pile on this poor woman? I'm sorry you've had some family health issues. I'm sure your kid is going to be fine accademically. If your are reading with them and talking to them, you know where they are. Thank you for putting your child's health, and the health of their classmates ahead of misplaced scholastic competition.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:22 days OP??? And it's only March. Let's say it takes 3 days to kick strep or a virus. I'm not even including weekends. That means your kid has had 7 of these episodes? Seven??? I'm a mother of a third grader, and my kid got strep twice last year. That seems a bit excessive.

Not OP, but it just looks like you have a healthier child. She is considering surgery to try to help this in the future- what else would you have her do?

Seriously! Do you think you're being helpful by coming on here and shaming her? Is it any of your business? Do you keep your third grader home when they are sick, or do you send him or her to school so they can share their germs with everyone? I can relate, op. My kid has been sick a lot too. We don't get a nasty gram from the principal about it though.

Anonymous wrote:22 days OP??? And it's only March. Let's say it takes 3 days to kick strep or a virus. I'm not even including weekends. That means your kid has had 7 of these episodes? Seven??? I'm a mother of a third grader, and my kid got strep twice last year. That seems a bit excessive.

Not OP, but it just looks like you have a healthier child. She is considering surgery to try to help this in the future- what else would you have her do?

22 days OP??? And it's only March. Let's say it takes 3 days to kick strep or a virus. I'm not even including weekends. That means your kid has had 7 of these episodes? Seven??? I'm a mother of a third grader, and my kid got strep twice last year. That seems a bit excessive.

VA does indeed have individual-student attendance regulations. OP, please consider sending an email (and retaining a copy) to the Principal stating that there have been legitimate medical events that required absence under FCPS's student attendance guidelines, and that you would like to call him/her, and then place the call.