Every day counts in a child’s education and School Attendance Matters. Chronic absenteeism has been defined as missing at least 10 percent of days in a school year for any reason, including excused and unexcused absences. The Carson City School District has hovered around 25% chronic absenteeism. While most schools in the district don’t average as high as the overall rate, hearing about the alarming statistic has motivated a few community partners including Mayor Lori Bagwell.
Back in January, Mayor Bagwell launched the “Mayor’s Attendance Hall of Fame” campaign to promote perfect, improved or consistent attendance in school. The campaign was designed to help students understand the importance of attending school and ultimately incentivize children to arrive on time and remain at school.
Partnering with local businesses including Greater Nevada Credit Union (GNCU), Carson City Toyota, Glen Eagles Restaurant and many others, Mayor Bagwell and these community partners have delivered six bicycles per elementary school (36 in total), gift cards for the middle schools and high schools, ice cream gift certificates, Visa cards, air pods, Jump Around Carson bus passes, toothbrushes, movie passes, books and other items. Because numerous students who met the criteria, the items were offered as raffle prizes.
“School attendance has shown to be a key indicator significantly correlated with high school graduation,” said Ricky Medina, Ph.D., director of accountability and assessment for the Carson City School District. “The effects of lost school days build up one absence at a time with individual students. The best way to counteract that is to build up regular attendance, one day at a time and to help parents a families unify with schools and understand the importance and overall impact of missing school.”
While we recognize that life happens and that there will be times we will not be able to go to school for reasons beyond our control, absenteeism or tardiness becomes an issue at school when it becomes a constant behavior, Medina continued. Parents must be behind these efforts to ensure their children are practicing good habits at home and at school. After all, parents are children’s first teachers, and family values are the main contributing factors to the life of a successful student.
The prizes from the “Mayor’s Attendance Hall of Fame” campaign were awarded publicly during school assemblies and served as incentives for youth to establish lifelong positive habits. Not only does attendance matter in school, but those early learned habits of tardiness or unplanned days off also play a significant role in careers and future employment opportunities. Educators, parents and community partners and businesses need to unify in the effort.
If a child is communicating a desire to not attend school or attendance issues persist, don’t be afraid to ask school officials for help. There are resources and support from the school community.
The following students were awarded bikes for perfect, improved or consistent attendance in school:
- Sahrena Chairez-Cox, kindergarten, Bordewich Bray Elementary School
- Eugene Claridge, first-grade, Bordewich Bray Elementary School
- Avery Smith, second-grade, Bordewich Bray Elementary School
- Marlee Sommers, third-grade, Bordewich Bray Elementary School
- Eli Royce, fourth-grade, Bordewich Bray Elementary School
- Maggie Ray, fifth-grade, Bordewich Bray Elementary School
- Marjorie Oliva-Acosta, kindergarten, Empire Elementary School
- Aileen Magana, first-grade, Empire Elementary School
- Ximena Zaragoza, second-grade, Empire Elementary School
- Liz Blandon, third-grade, Empire Elementary School
- Alexer Zaragoza, fourth-grade, Empire Elementary School
- Delia Mendoza, fifth-grade, Empire Elementary School
- Desmond Armenta-Montez, kindergarten, Fremont Elementary School
- Sophie Roberts, first-grade, Fremont Elementary School
- Angel Bedoy-Regla, second-grade, Fremont Elementary School
- Alice Rodriguez, third-grade, Fremont Elementary School
- Jeff Hurzel, fourth-grade, Fremont Elementary School
- Eduardo Galvez-Hernandez, fifth-grade, Fremont Elementary School
- Landon Curtis, kindergarten, Fritsch Elementary School
- Addilyn Hall, second-grade, Fritsch Elementary School
- Andrew Herrera, second-grade, Fritsch Elementary School
- Ariel Lawrence, third-grade, Fritsch Elementary School
- Derrick Manley, fourth-grade, Fritsch Elementary School
- Gretchen Bell, fifth-grade, Fritsch Elementary School
- Jayla Paris, kindergarten, Mark Twain Elementary School
- Alizabeth Galloway, first-grade, Mark Twain Elementary School
- Malique Perkins, second-grade, Mark Twain Elementary School
- Hernan Garcia, third-grade, Mark Twain Elementary School
- Tashana Pierorot, fourth-grade, Mark Twain Elementary School
- Gael Pacheco Contreras, fifth-grade, Mark Twain Elementary School
- Sloane Dehaven, kindergarten, Seeliger Elementary School
- Ricardo Alfarez, first-grade, Seeliger Elementary School
- Bridget Thompson, second-grade, Seeliger Elementary School
- Taelynn Jalkson, third-grade, Seeliger Elementary School
- Lionel Lopez-Lopez, fourth-grade, Seeliger Elementary School
- Tristan Flores, fifth-grade, Seeliger Elementary School
The following middle and high school students were awarded $250 gift cards for perfect, improved or consistent attendance in school:
- Janred Deza, sixth-grade, Eagle Valley Middle School
- Tatum Manley, sixth-grade, Eagle Valley Middle School
- Kassandra Mosqueda, sixth-grade, Eagle Valley Middle School
- Kensington Thorley, sixth-grade, Eagle Valley Middle School
- Saul Juarez-Razo, seventh-grade, Eagle Valley Middle School
- Kellen Thorley, eighth-grade, Eagle Valley Middle School
- Jaelynn Paugh-Wallis, eighth-grade, Eagle Valley Middle School
- Norma Dominguez, sixth-grade, Carson Middle School
- Emmalina Alfarez, seventh-grade, Carson Middle School
- Charlie Richetta, eighth-grade, Carson Middle School
- Amy Velazquez-Velazquez, ninth-grade, Carson High School
- Genius De Serrano, tenth-grade, Carson High School
- Thomas Kryder, tenth-grade, Carson High School
- Karol Sanchez-Iniguez, tenth-grade, Carson High School
- Febbie Asun Breitweiser, eleventh-grade, Carson High School
Additionally, listed below are the names of students from Pioneer Academy that received gift cards/gift certificates for perfect, improved or consistent attendance in school.
- Kaitlyn Nguyen (bike, gift card and medal)
- Nikki Mae Dimarucut (gift card, medal and cash prize from mayor's office)
- Christina Taylor (gift card, certificate and medal)
- Alexander Jeffries (gift card, certificate and medal)
- Apple Aguilar (gift card, certificate and medal)
- Ashley Ellis (gift card, certificate and medal)
- William Houk (gift card, certificate and medal)
- Kameron Harris (gift card and certificate)
- Josiah Diaz (gift card, certificate and medal)