“Be here any time that you can,” Mrs. Bennett said when asked about the importance of attendance. She explained that even missing a few days of school can quickly turn into a bigger problem for students.
“Missing a few days can make a big difference,” Mrs. Bennett said. Students may miss tests, quizzes, graded assignments, or even state testing. “The more you miss, the more you have to make up, and the more you have to make up, the more you miss,” she explained.
Mrs. Bennett also said that even when students complete work online, they are still missing important parts of learning. “They are not getting that one on one instruction with the teacher,” she said. She used English class as an example, explaining that while grammar rules stay the same, every teacher has different expectations and teaching styles. Being in class helps students learn how to work with different people, which is also an important real world skill.
When asked what students should do if they are struggling to come to school, Mrs. Bennett said it depends on the reason, but help is available. If students are having trouble with transportation, she encouraged them to talk to an adult so a bus or other ride option can be arranged. If students are struggling mentally, she said they should speak with her or with Miss Smith so they can connect students with school resources.
The school also has a mental health counselor that students can be referred to through an intake process, as long as they are not already seeing an outside therapist. “We have services here,” Mrs. Bennett said, adding that the goal is to help students get to school and be able to learn.
While mental health days can be important, Mrs. Bennett warned that taking too many can lead to more stress later. She said that taking one once in a while is okay, but missing several days in a short period of time can make the rest of the semester much harder. Her main message to students was simple: “Be here anytime that you can.”
Graphic: Gibson Bell for Weekly Wildcat, 2025. CC BY-SA 4.0
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