On August 3, the voices of students and teachers will ring through the halls of Poplarville’s schools once again.
In preparation for the first day of the new school year, the Poplarville School District is promoting “Every Student, Every Day,” a national program to eliminate chronic absenteeism under the umbrella of President Barack Obama’s initiative My Brother’s Keeper.
According to www.whitehouse.gov, the initiative focuses on six major themes: Entering school ready to learn, third grade reading levels, college and career readiness, postsecondary education, successfully entering the workforce and keeping students on track.
According to a release from the Poplarville School District, data shows that students who miss two or three days per month in kindergarten and first grade “may never catch up with their peers.”
Chronically absent students, those who miss 10 percent or more of the school year, are more likely to drop out before graduation, the release states.
Poplarville School District Superintendent Carl Merritt said Lisa Magee, the district’s attendance interventionist, does a great job of tracking student attedance.
In recent years, the district has expanded its program by linking school, family and community resources, the release states. The district and each school have enacted an “extensive” system of incentive goals to reward students who reach attendance goals.
For the past two years Merritt has dyed his mustache a different color to inspire students. The first year he donned pink facial hair and the next year, camouflage.
This October, Merritt will visit each classroom and tell students he will “dye his mustache the color of their choice if they can meet their monthly goal,” the release states.
According to coverage from last year’s attendance celebration, students who achieved perfect attendance were entered into a drawing to win prizes, which included bicycles, helmets and Chromebooks.
This year’s incentives include “Get on the Bus” at the lower elementary and pictures taken in Dr. Seuss’ Truffula Tree at the upper elementary. The middle school’s incentives include a “color run,” “tailgating” and “pie in the principal’s face.” The Positive Behavior Program and one-on-one mentoring will be practiced at the high school, the release states. Each school will also offer a Chromebook drawing.
“We need to get the information to our parents that attendance has a direct correlation to high academic performance,” Merritt said. “We want the kids here to learn socially and academically. We want them to be involved. When parents get them to us their academic performance improves. We take good care of them and do our very best.”
According to the release, all absences must be accounted for in writing, which includes check-ins and check-outs. Students “must be in school 63 percent of the their instructional day to be counted present.” Tardies should be avoided, except in an emergency. The parent is also required to sign the student in, the release states.
Parents who have questions regarding attendance can contact Magee at 601-795-8477.