questions in students' leave notes

[ziawj2]

I assigned my students to write a sick leave note. Suppose he/she broke his/her leg and cannot attend English oral class. So he/she write a leave note to his/her teacher, Jackie. My questions are:
1. Jackie is a name instead of a surname, so can they greet their teacher directly by "Dear Jackie"? And which is better "Hi Jackie"? How to greet in salutation decide how to greet in complimentary close. So if greet with "Dear Jackie", can we greet with "Yours sincerely"? Is "Best wishes" better? Can you give more expressions?
2. To be formal, we usually avoid using shorten forms, such as "I'm", "I can't". So can we use them in a written leave note?
3. If I write a leave note, must I make it clear that how long leave I shall ask for? For example, I must write "I'm writing to ask for sick leave of two days" instead of "I'm writing to ask for sick leave". Is it a rule to obey while writing a leave note?

[Bennevis]

1. Dear Mr Someone, Mrs Someone, Miss Someone, Ms Someone (use Ms for women unless asked to use Mrs or Miss) - Address your teacher by his/her last name.

2. In your situation, you MAY use contractions.

3. This I don't know. Here is a sample of such a letter.

[ziawj2]

1. Dear Mr Someone, Mrs Someone, Miss Someone, Ms Someone (use Ms for women unless asked to use Mrs or Miss) - Address your teacher by his/her last name.

2. In your situation, you MAY use contractions.

3. This I don't know. Here is a sample of such a letter.

To the first question, I still feel confused. In China, oral English teacher usually don't tell us his/her surname. So can I directly address him/her by "Dear Jackie".

[Bennevis]

To the first question, I still feel confused. In China, oral English teacher usually don't tell us his/her surname. So can I directly address him/her by "Dear Jackie".

If in your culture it's OK, then go for it.

[ziawj2]

If in your culture it's OK, then go for it.

If I address her by "Dear Jackie", how do I close the letter? In some reference books, it is said that
if you know the addressee's surname, such as Mr. Smith, and begin your letter with "Dear Mr. Smith", then you close your letter with "Yours sincerely";
if you don't know the addressee's surname, and begin your letter with "Dear Sir", then you close your letter with "Yours faithfully" or "Yours truly";
if you addressee by her/her first name, such as "Dear Jackie", then you close with "Best wishes".
I want to know that besides "Best wishes", can you introduce other expressions?

[Bennevis]

When I was preparing one of my students for IELTS, we had to go over all those opening and closing collocations used in formal and informal letters.
In this video, teacher Rebecca gives us a comprehensive account of how to open and close your letters.

[ziawj2]

When I was preparing one of my students for IELTS, we had to go over all those opening and closing collocations used in formal and informal letters.
In this video, teacher Rebecca gives us a comprehensive account of how to open and close your letters.

This website (youtube) cannot be visited for some time here. But thanks anyway.

[Bennevis]

This website (youtube) cannot be visited for some time here. But thanks anyway.

Here it is:

When the recipient's name is unknown to you:
Dear Sir ... Yours faithfully
Dear Madam ... Yours faithfully
Dear Sir or Madam ... Yours faithfully

When you know the recipient's name:
Dear Mr Hanson ... Yours sincerely
Dear Mrs Hanson ... Yours sincerely
Dear Miss Hanson ... Yours sincerely
Dear Ms Hanson ... Yours sincerely (we don't know if she is married)


When addressing a good friend or colleague:
Dear Jack ... Best wishes/Best regards

Addressing whole departments:
Dear Sirs ... Yours faithfully

[ziawj2]

Thanks for your help.