Every Day Counts: Let's Get our Attendance Back on Track!
Every Day Counts:
Let's Get our Attendance Back on Track!
Hello, Community Families,
We need your help with something that has a tremendous impact on student success—attendance! One of the simplest and most important things we can do for our children is make sure they are at school, on time, and ready to learn each day. Great things happen at CMCS every day, and we don’t want our students to miss a minute of it! As we approach our 25th day of school, it’s a good time to check in on how we’re doing—and set a goal to make every school day count.
At the end of last school year, our cumulative chronic absenteeism rate was down to just 6.3%—an amazing achievement that showed what our Community can accomplish when we work together to make attendance a priority!
Last year, we also had the support of our amazing Pupil Services and Attendance Counselor, Claudia, who worked closely with our students and families and played a huge role in helping us improve our attendance. In fact, Claudia did such a fantastic job that she was moved to another school this year to work her attendance magic there! We miss her, and now it’s up to all of us—students, families, teachers, and staff—to keep that momentum going.
So far this year, however, we are heading in the wrong direction. Our cumulative chronic absenteeism rate is currently 13.6%—more than double the 6.3% where we ended last year. We know we can do better, and now is the time to turn it around!
Looking ahead, Tuesday, September 16 marks our 25th day of school—can you believe it? Summer vacation already feels like a distant memory! This milestone is also an important reminder about how quickly absences can add up. Missing three or more days at this point in the school year puts a student in the chronically absent range.
It’s also important to understand the difference between chronic absenteeism and truancy. Chronic absenteeism includes absences regardless of the reason, while truancy involves unexcused absences. Families of students with unexcused absences may receive a truancy notification from LAUSD. Continued unexcused absences may result in additional attendance letters and, if attendance does not improve, a School Attendance Review Team (SART) meeting to develop an attendance improvement plan.
But our goal isn’t to send letters—it’s to have our students here at school, learning and thriving! Every day a child misses means missed instruction, classroom discussions, hands-on learning, special activities, and valuable time connecting with teachers and classmates. A day here and a day there may not seem like much, but those days add up quickly.
Families, we need your help! Unless your child is sick or there is another important reason they cannot attend, please make every effort to have them at school every day and on time. Whenever possible, schedule vacations, family trips, and appointments outside of instructional days and hours.
We brought our chronic absenteeism rate down to 6.3% last year, and we can do it again! Let’s work together to get that 13.6% down, down, down!
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s attendance, please contact Stephanie in the main office at stephanie.j.sandoval@lausd.net.
Let’s show up, Community! Every student. Every day. Every minute counts!
Best,
Toni
Way to show up, shine, and make every school day count!
FROM CFF . . .
Dear Community Families,
WOW! Look what we’ve accomplished together!
A HUGE thank-you to all of the incredible families who have already contributed to our Pledge Drive. Your generosity, participation, and support are making a real difference for our students and our school community.
TOGETHER, WE HAVE RAISED $68,428 of the $211,090 Pledge Drive goal!
That’s an incredible jump from where we started, and it shows what is possible when our community comes together.
But we’re not finished yet!
Every dollar pledged brings us closer to our fundraising goal and helps provide meaningful opportunities, programs, and experiences for our students. Whether you have already contributed or are still considering a pledge, now is the time to keep the momentum going.
Want to Earn Credit Card Points?
Credit card processing fees are currently $0—but only through this weekend! This is a great time to make your pledge, support our students, and earn valuable credit card points while you can.
Prefer to Pay by Check?
No problem! Sometimes, the old-fashioned way is still the best way.
Please make your check payable to CFF and include your student’s full name and grade in the memo.
You can send the check in your child’s folder or drop it off at the main office.
Don’t Forget About the Incentives! A new incentive has entered the game!
2026-27 COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Community Council Agenda for September 15, 2026
All CMCS stakeholders are welcome to attend any Community Council meeting. If you would like to share a concern about our school, please let a Council member know in advance so you may be scheduled for Public Comment. Each comment is limited to 2 minutes. Your concern will be heard, and the Council will address it at the following meeting.
I’d like to extend my thanks once again to our new members for serving on this year’s Community Council. Our first meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 15, at 1:45 PM in Room 23.
Grade-Level Parent Representatives:
CFF Representatives:
Lynda Andrews (cff@welovecmcs.org)
Andrea Greenberg (andrea.beth.greenberg@gmail.com)
Teachers:
Brandon Backhaus
Dylan Elliott
Fanahi Williams
Kirsten Griffone
Classified Staff:
Lalita Lewis
Sarah Lilly
Principal:
Toni Klugh
- 2:30 - 2:45 pm: Snacks and restroom break
- 2:45 - 4:15 pm: Math Club
- 4:30 pm: Valet pick-up/Kids for College
- ~4:45 pm: Bus departure
- October 5,12,19,26
- November 2, 9, 30
- December 7
- January 25
- February 1, 8, 22
- March 1, 15
- March 18 – Math Kangaroo Competition,
- March 22 – Closing Celebration, (TBD)
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH?
BUS BOOK FORM
We no longer accept phone calls for Bus Book changes.
If your student’s after-school plans change, please complete this Bus Book Form before 12:00 p.m.
Our goal is to get students safely and efficiently to their buses, valet, or after-school activities—and your help truly makes a difference.
Here’s how you can help IN 2 easy steps:
By following these steps, you’re helping us keep dismissal safe, organized, and on time—so students get home sooner and buses can return for late pickup more quickly.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in keeping our students safe and our afternoons running smoothly!
iAttend Resources for Parents/Guardians and Communities:
School Attendance - A Guide for Parents (English & Spanish)
Attendance Achievement by 25 Instructional Days Calendar (English & Spanish)
Parent Attendance Tracker (English & Spanish)
Absence Tracker for Parents (English & Spanish)
How to Safely Send Your Students to School (English & Spanish)
Elementary Student Absence Note Template (English & Spanish)
- Back to School Tips (English)
- Back to school Tips (Spanish)
Here is the information on how to opt in to BBC messages if users accidentally opt out of messages. Opt-Out/Opt-In: Connect Notification System
The Connect system allows individuals receiving calls, emails or texts to Opt-Out from getting future communications.
- At the end of every call, Opt-Out instructions will be heard. The recipient can press the appropriate number to Opt-Out the phone number on which they are receiving the call. Alternatively, they can dial (855) 502-7867 to Opt-Out.
- This will impact receiving Outreach (general) messages and Blackboard Teacher Communication messages. It does not impact Attendance or Emergency calls sent by schools, local districts or central district offices. Attendance and Emergency calls directly impact the safety of students and staff and will continue to be delivered by the system.
- If an erroneous call is being made to a non-parent or non-employee, and they have already Opted-Out using the automated system, there is still the potential for them to receive Attendance and Emergency calls. To fully prevent calls from being made to this erroneous number, it must be corrected on the MiSiS Parent/Guardian Information screen for K-12 schools or the appropriate screen in EESIS and DACESIS for Early Education Centers and Adult schools, respectively. For employees, the correction must occur in the Employee Self-Service system (ess.lausd.net). Deleting the number directly from Connect will only be effective for 24 hours or until the next LAUSD data file is received by Finalsite.
- Parents and employees can choose to Opt back into receiving Outreach (general) messages by calling (855) 502-7867 for any phone number that was previously Opted-Out.
- Parents and employees can choose to Opt back in to receiving Text messages by texting "START LAUSD" to 91841.
- For opting emails back in, please contact the Mass Notification (formerly Blackboard) Office (see Contact Us).
- Teacher Communication messages will also include the same Opt-Out instructions.
- For every text and email message sent, the recipient will also be provided instructions on how to Opt-Out from receiving future messages.
Save the Dates . . .
Recurring Activities
Tiny Spotlight Musical Theater: Tuesdays/ Thursdays
Morning Assembly: FridaysTutoring: M, W, TH
Tuesday Enrichment: Tuesdays - POSTPONED
Intervention: W, TH - POSTPONED
Math Kangaroo: Mondays, beginning October 5 (tentative start date)
Recurring Activities
Tiny Spotlight Musical Theater: Tuesdays/ Thursdays
Morning Assembly: FridaysTutoring: M, W, TH
Tuesday Enrichment: Tuesdays - POSTPONED
Intervention: W, TH - POSTPONED
Math Kangaroo: Mondays, beginning October 5 (tentative start date)
- September 21
- NO SCHOOL - Unassigned Day
- September 23-25
- Astro Camp for 5th graders
- September 28-October 2
- Invitational Parent Conferences (mandatory for kindergarten)
- Warning Notices sent home for students projected to earn 1s or 2s on report cards
- No tutoring, intervention, or late buses this week
- September 30 and October 1
- Minimum Days, 12:50 dismissals
October 5
Math Kangaroo begins
October 6
Make-up Picture Day
Hispanic Heritage Grade Level Presentations, Grades 3 and 4
October 9
Hispanic Heritage Assemblies
October 12
Middle School Night
October 13
Council Meeting
October 14
Prospective Parent Tour
October 15
BIG SHAKE!!
October 16
TeaTime withToni
October 24 (Saturday)
Fall Beautification Day (tentative)
October 28
Prospective Parent Tour
October 30
Parade of Masks!!
OCTOBER
- November 4
- Prospective Parent Tour
- November 6
- Enrollment Application Deadline
- Tiny Spotlight presents "Annie"
- 5PM show (Tuesday cast)
NOVEMBER
- November 7 (Saturday)
- Tiny Spotlight presents "Annie"
- 11AM (Tuesday Cast)
- 5PM (Thursday cast)
- November 8 (Sunday)
- Tiny Spotlight presents "Annie"
- 11AM (Thursday Cast)
- November 9-10 and 12-13
- Fall Parent Conferences (week1)
- November 11
- NO SCHOOL - Veterans Day
- November 12
- Safety Drills
- November 23-27
- Thanksgiving Break
- 🦃🦃
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