The school year is about to begin. The excitement and enthusiasm has been evident among our students as they’ve been in our school buildings for registration, athletic camps, and practices. Our teachers are ready to get started, and along with the tried-and-true methods that they have implemented for many years, they will also be using some new strategies to engage our students and maximize learning in the coming school year. I’m expecting GREAT things to happen in the 2018-2019 school year, and I hope you are, too! I want to challenge our Gladbrook-Reinbeck students to make the most of every day this school year by being an active participant in their own learning. Perhaps you’ve heard the saying “You can’t win if you don’t play.” Often this phrase is used in advertisements for the lottery. While I don’t want to promote gambling, I do think this phrase makes a good point about participation. While your odds of winning a jackpot are very slim, I guarantee you that there is a 100% chance that those people who DON’T buy a lottery ticket WON’T win a jackpot. It’s true that you can’t win if you don’t play. The same thing is true of our learning…You can’t win if you don’t play. What does that mean? To me, it means two things: 1) ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT. Students need to be at school – every day, on time, so they won’t miss out on important opportunities for learning; and, 2) PARTICIPATE! At Gladbrook-Reinbeck, we have so many wonderful ways for students to extend their learning beyond the classroom. I challenge every 7-12 student to participate in in at least one sport, at least one club or organization, and at least one fine arts activity. Students that participate in activities are more likely to have higher academic achievement, less likely to drop out of school, and more likely to become involved members of their communities as adults. Parents can make a big difference in a child’s education by doing their part to encourage good attendance and participation. They can encourage their children to participate in extracurricular activities, and provide the necessary transportation, resources, and support. While all students may need to be absent from school on occasion, parents can also play a critical role in ensuring good attendance. Here are some tips for good attendance provided by the National Association of Elementary School Principals: 1. Plan ahead when scheduling vacations. Take a look at the G-R school calendar (you can view it online at http://tinyurl.com/grcalendars). There are several three-day weekends and even longer breaks during the year that will allow family fun without having to miss school. Also, plan ahead when it comes to parents and siblings’ appointments – does every child in the family need to go if the appointment is just for one family member? 2. Prioritize your schedule. Many times, doctor appointments can be scheduled to take place in the hours immediately following school or on Saturdays. At minimum, appointments can usually be made so that a student misses a half-day of school rather than a full day. 3. Have a regular bedtime. Establish an evening routine that includes time for reading and other activities that help your child to become calm and relaxed before bed. 4. Teach organizational skills so your child can get out the door with the proper materials, homework, etc. 5. Encourage healthy habits. Make sure your child has breakfast and nutritious snacks. Emphasize hand washing and cleanliness each and every day. I hope you will find these tips to be helpful. Do you have another tip to share, or a comment about this article? You are welcome to visit my blog at https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my columns from the Northern Sun Print and Reinbeck Courier and leave comments if you wish. I also occasionally post pictures and other content that is not submitted to the paper or additional information that expands upon what was submitted to the paper. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill. We at G-R truly appreciate parents’ efforts in teaching their children the importance of good attendance and participation. The school year is upon us…Let’s make every day count!