Glenella School
Attendance Program
March 8, 2013
“When stakeholders believe and
understand the importance of
attending school, attendance
will increase.”
2011 video
Presentation Outline
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Objectives
Background Information
Our Program
Next Steps
Objectives
• Increase parent knowledge about the
importance of attendance
• Ensure the needs of at risk students are
acknowledged, and addressed, so they are
successful in attending school regularly
• To increase student attendance at Glenella
School to 90% by June, 2013
Background Information
• K-12 School, with 125 students, 9 teaching
staff, 6 EA’s, and 4 support staff
• Students bused to Glenella from the
neighboring communities of Kelwood, Riding
Mountain and Amaranth
• Overall student absenteeism was high because
parents put non-essential appointments
and/or activities at a higher priority than
school attendance
• There were some students living in difficult
situations who were not engaged in their
education. They do not have all their basic
needs, such as lunch, being met.
• These basic needs are required for consistent
attendance and engagement at school
• 13 out of 125 students are town students, so
busing and weather can often be an issue
Our School
High School End
Elementary End
Our Perfect Attendance Program
C.F.S./Multiagency
School Culture
Increase Parent Knowledge
Office Follow-up
Office Follow-Up
• We use a attendance tracking program
called Maplewood, and the secretary
follows-up with missing students by 9:30 in
the morning
• Most parents are good at calling/sending
notes to the school prior to the start of the
day to explain absences
• Principal follows-up with phone calls to
families of students with multiple absences
• Talking to an actual person makes it difficult
to have unexplained absences
• Since the program has started, parents are
even more diligent about communicating
with the school than before
Turtle River School Division policy states the
following…
• That after three absences, a verbal
warning is given to the student
• After five absences, a letter is mailed
home
• After eight absences, a second letter is
sent
• If a child misses more that 20% of school
in a month, a truancy letter is sent from
the school and the division office
Increasing Parent Knowledge
The following initiatives were taken
to improve stakeholder knowledge…
• Placemats
• Magnets
• Attendance policy is periodically
printed in newsletter, and it is in
their student handbook
• Meetings with P.A.C.
• Parent survey
The stakeholder survey (parents/staff/students) from the first
year was used to help plan for the second year of the program.
“If you could change one thing about the Glenella School
Perfect Attendance Program, what would it be?”
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Exclude medical absences from the “prizing”.
The whole thing shouldn’t be needed – attendance is a
parent’s responsibility.
Give out school supplies – we pay for enough stuff as it is
now.
So far, so good!
I think this is a great idea – don’t change anything.
Send us info about how much improvement has been seen.
There needs to be more fairness in how the prizes are
awarded.
Only reward the truly “perfect” attenders.
More choices for the prizes.
School Culture
To make Glenella School an inviting, safe and
supportive place for all students, including at risk
students, we offer the following programs…
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Developed an active student council
Offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities
Scheduled open gym at noon hour daily
Healthy snack program
K-12 school activities (gym riots/spirit
weeks/winter activity days, etc.)
• Strive for academic success for all
• Monthly attendance celebration assemblies
C.F.S./Multiagency
• In extreme cases, principal follows
through with other agencies to get
advice and support
• This has only occurred once in this
school year
100
90
2012-2013
Perfect
Attenders
by Grades
80
% of 100% Attenders
70
60
K
gr 1,2
gr 3,4
gr 5,6
50
gr 7,8
40
gr 9,10
30
gr 11
20
gr 12
10
0
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Month
March
April
May
June
Attendance 2010-2013
98
96
94
92
90
2010/2011
88
2011/2012
2012/2013
86
84
82
80
78
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
March
April
May
June
Advantages
• Student, parent and
community awareness of the
importance of regular school
attendance
• Students earn prizes for
positive behavior and
celebrate their success
• Students get full advantage of learning
opportunities by being in school
• Improved communication between
school and home relating to attendance
and other issues
• Improved attendance
Challenges
• Rural location causes travel time for services
such as medical, dental, and orthodontist
appointments
• Farm related activities can cause absences
• When there is an illness outbreak, our small
population can be hit hard
• Finding an acceptable definition of regular
attendance
• Parents of chronic non-attendees are
complacent about program
• Finding appropriate prizes for K-12 age group
• Our data is not consistent from year to year
because of changes in administration and
community/staff input
• Somewhat transient population results in
fluctuating student numbers, and new
students aren’t invested in the program
Next Steps
• What to do when program ends and prizes
either disappear or become less attractive
• Will continue to communicate the importance
attendance to stakeholders
• Continued support from P.A.C.
• Continue our healthy snack program
Attendance interview video by Grade 10 class
Questions and Comments?
Contact Information
Glenella School
Jennifer Sellman - Principal
jsellman@trsd32.mb.ca
204-352-4253