When your alarm goes off on September 3, there are basically two scenarios for parents.

Some of you may have children that won’t sleep the night before because they are so excited to sling that backpack over their shoulders and stride through the doors of their classroom.

The rest of us have to shake the bed of our children to simulate an earthquake just to get a grunt before the covers are pulled over the head and they roll over, trying to prolong summer break for just a few more minutes.

Whichever scenario your household falls under, the important thing is that an effort is made to get children to school. Attendance matters—not just on the first day, but throughout the entire school year.

Perfect attendance is a laudable goal, but not always realistic. Things happen that translate into the occasional absence: kids get sick, appointments occur during school hours, it’s colder than the North Pole so buses aren’t running and there’s a four-hour wait to get a boost because you forgot to plug in your car.

Missing two or more days of school a month doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s considered chronic absence. If a student misses two days a month from kindergarten through Grade 8, it adds up to missing almost an entire year of school.

Those days add up fast, and so do the important building blocks of learning that are missed. A student learning to read or learning basic math skills can easily fall behind. There’s a domino effect for virtually every other subject area. Ultimately, that can translate into lower graduation rates.

Conversely, regular attendance helps students form good habits, they are more likely to be interested and engaged in their learning, and they are more likely to stay in school and graduate.

So, on the first day of school, and every other day, thank you for making school a priority and for making the effort to get your children to school. We’re glad you’re here today!