March 24, 2008

  Dear Parents:  

 I am writing to you regarding the annual Take Your Daughter and Son to Work Day that is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2008.  In Arizona many businesses have adopted an alternative date in June which does not impact classroom instruction.   We are asking you to have your children attend school on April 24. In the past, many of our students have gone to work with their parents leaving few children in attendance at school. It becomes very difficult for our teachers to provide meaningful activities with so many children absent.

While the Deer Valley Unified School District values career exploration for its students and encourages family activities, we are asking that you send your child to school and take part in any activities that your business organization may have scheduled in June.   Because the district is neither sponsoring nor endorsing this event as an instructional day, children who are not in attendance at school will be marked absent in accordance with our daily attendance procedures.   We encourage you to take your child to work at a time when it does not impact their educational development. Stakes have never been higher for student achievement. It is vital that we maximize classroom learning.

Thank you for your support.  

Sincerely, Virginia B. McElyea, Ed.D. Superintendent