Welcome to Hadley
Elementary School!
Tips for
a Successful School Year from Mr. DiPietro
One of the key factors contributing to a
successful school year is for students to establish and follow
consistent routines right from the start. Several tips from
teachers and administrators that have proven helpful for
students are:
1. Make sure your child
gets to school every day – and on time.
Good attendance is essential for successful student
academic performance. Missed class time is missed learning
time, and each subsequent tardy or absence compounds the
problem. To put absences in their proper perspective, a
twenty-minute tardy or absence from school each day means 60
hours – or two weeks – of missed learning during a school
year. Please understand that your child’s teacher can’t teach
a student that isn’t in class – so don’t take precious class
time for granted. With that in mind, try to schedule dentist
and doctor appointments outside of school hours.
2. Follow a schedule.
Children need a schedule to follow and depend on – one
that includes definite times for homework, meals, and sleep.
They can then work around those specific times to include
additional activities.
3. Limit TV and video
games.
Decide how much free time should be spent on these
activities – and stick to it.
4. Make reading a family activity.
Talk to your child about your favorite books;
encourage your child to retell a favorite story, focusing on
meaning and comprehension; provide your child with a wide
variety of reading materials, including books and magazines;
and encourage your child to read every night. Remember that
reading is the “gateway to academic success.”
5. Stay informed of what your child
is doing in school.
Take a few minutes every day to look at what your
child brings home from school, and ask them each day what
happened at school that day. By spending a few minutes each
day talking to your child about what he or she studied at
school, you will not only be more informed about their
education, but will also encourage your child to be more
thoughtful about his or her own learning.
6. Provide support for homework.
Equip your child with a consistent, quiet,
well-lighted place in your home with all necessary supplies to
do homework.
7. Give your school child lots of
positive reinforcement every day.
Positive comments send a message to children that
their school efforts are recognized and appreciated, which can
lead to their greater effort and stronger academic
performance. So, look for and acknowledge the good things
your student does no matter how small they may be, and comment
favorably on them regularly.
Remember that the actions you take (or
don’t take) as a parent can make all the difference to your
child’s success in school. I believe that, if adopted, the
measures described above will lead to enhanced student
interest, learning, and achievement in school.
Sincerely,
Philip J. DiPietro
Principal

Phillip DiPietro - Principal
PDiPietro@hadleyschools.org
Kathleen Boyden - Student
Services Director
KBoyden@hadleyschools.org
Gayle Kolodziej - Secretary
GKolodziej@hadleyschools.org
Brenda Pelissier - Secretary,
Student Services
BPelissier@hadleyschools.org