Jeff and "a note"

Jeff was in 1st grade at Washington Elementary School in Redondo Beach. One day he came home from school and said he didn't feel well and crawled into bed. I think he woke and had a little supper, but then went back to bed. In the morning, I let him sleep in thinking he would just stay home sick. When he woke up he was worried that he was late. I said he could stay home. He got really worried then and said that he had to go to school. I couldn't figure out what was possibly so important that he couldn't miss that day. When I asked him, this was his response. "The teacher said if we are sick and miss school we have to bring a note - and I don't know how to write a note!"