The Importance of Preschool Attendance





September is Attendance Awareness Month, and as the school year begins we would like to point out the importance of school attendance, even in the earliest years.

Did you know that absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year? According to Baltimore Education Research Consortium, half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school. Read the full article here.
Many studies show that attending a high quality early learning program strengthens school readiness and long term academic performance. Regular attendance in these programs is critically important for children to become successful life-long learners. Not only will good attendance help build good habits for the children, it can also help alleviate academic problems later on.

The Brightside Academy Early Learning Program is designed to deliver skills that build on one another. If a child is absent, they often miss the foundation skills they need to learn the next skill. It can take days and even weeks to then teach the child that skills and catch them up. By that time, they have missed other skills. If they fall behind too much, they may never fully catch up.

If children are regularly absent, they may not be fully prepared for school. Preschool is a time for building the social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills needed for school readiness. “A growing body of research documents how many youngsters are chronically absent, meaning they miss 10 percent or more of the school year due to excused or unexcused absences. The research also shows how these missed days as early as preschool translate into weaker reading skills” (Attendance in the Early Grades: Why it Matters for Reading).

The best way to help us prepare your children for school is to make sure they are consistently attending so they are able to learn all of the necessary skills. Here are a few tips from Attanceworks that can help prepare your child for preschool and ensure attendance:
  • Know the first day of school and make sure their child has the required immunizations and materials.
  • Avoid letting their child stay home unless he or she is truly sick. Sometimes complaints of a stomachache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
  • Talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to alleviate a child’s anxiety about going to school or other issues.
  • Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.
  • Avoid scheduling medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session

If your child is continually absent or if you are having any trouble getting your child to school, please contact us and we can provide assistance.


Interested in enrolling your child at one of these locations? Please contact us to schedule a tour at 1-877-868-2273, visit brightsideacademy.com, or stop by a local academy for more information.



Brightside Academy Celebrates Second Annual Family Appreciation Day in Three States

(Pittsburgh, PA, August 28, 2015) – On August 20, 2015 Brightside Academy hosted its second annual Family Appreciation Day at 63 locations in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The company-wide, family-centered events celebrated families and their important role in the communities Brightside Academy serves. More than 1,700 families attended the celebrations.

Police departments, fire companies, and local businesses were among the community organizations that participated in Family Appreciation Day. Over 3,500 children explored police cars, fire trucks and had photos taken with local servicemen. The servicemen discussed back to school and provided information fire and community safety.

“We are ecstatic with the community participation for this event, and continue to build partnerships with organizations to support our families. Brightside Academy recognizes the value of promoting the wellness, safety, and education of our parents and children” said Mark Kehoe, Chief Executive Officer. Resources shared with attendees included health services, education programs, and personal banking.

Brightside Academy staff distributed over 2,500 gift bags to the families that participated. Other community partners donated food and prizes. Families enjoyed dancing, games, entertainment, and children’s activities such as face painting, crafts, and more.

Brightside Academy provides quality kindergarten readiness programs and child care to children ages six-weeks- to five-years-old and after-school programs. Modern facilities, nutritious menus, and qualified staff members work together to create learning environments fostering child development. Visit BrightsideAcademy.com to learn more.

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 Download PDF – Brightside Academy Celebrates Second Annual Family Appreciation Day in Three States

Brightside Academy celebrates 2nd Annual Family Appreication Day

We held our 2nd Annual Family Appreciation Day August 20, 2015. Each academy welcomed current and new families as well as community members to learn about our programs and services. Over 1,700 families attended our company-wide, family-centered events that celebrated families and their important role in the communities. 

The parent relationships in our academies are beneficial to the growth and development of the children we serve. “When schools acknowledge the relevance of children’s homes and cultures and promote family involvement, they can develop a supportive environment for learning through meaningful activities that engage and empower families” (Ramey & Ramey, 1999).

We work with our families throughout the year to understand their needs and provide support in areas such as medical and dental services, housing, and financial education in their communities. Local businesses joined us for Family Appreciation Day and the parents had access to resources in their areas.
Police departments, fire companies, and local businesses were among the community organizations that participated in Family Appreciation Day. Over 3,500 children explored police cars, fire trucks and had photos taken with local servicemen. The families enjoyed meeting these local heroes. The servicemen discussed back to school and provided information fire and community safety.

We distributed over 2,500 gift bags to the families that participated. Other community partners donated food and prizes. Families enjoyed dancing, games, entertainment and children’s activities such as face painting, crafts, and more.

We are thrilled with the involvement we received from the community and our families. We look forward to hosting Family Appreciation Day in future years to support our families and communities.

 Thank you to these community organizations for participating in our 2015 Family Appreciation Day

 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & Instagram to see the full 2015 Family Appreciation Day Album and pictures of our other events!