Glenella School

Attendance Program
March 8, 2013
 When stakeholders
believe and understand
the importance of
attending school,
attendance will increase.
2011 video
Presentation Outline

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 EAs, 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
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?

Exclude medical absences from the prizing.
The whole thing shouldnt be needed attendance is a
parents 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 dont 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

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

80 2012-2013
K
70
Perfect
gr 1,2
Attenders gr 3,4
60
by Grades gr 5,6
% of 100% Attenders 50
gr 7,8
40 gr
9,10
30
gr 11
20 gr 12

10

0
Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb MarchApril May June

Month
 Attendance 2010-2013
98

96

94

92

90
2010/2011
2011/2012
88 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
 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 arent
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