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Marion M. Graham Collegiate
Inspiring Learning
News Item

Families have important role in encouraging regular school attendance

March 19, 2019

BeHere 425 x 325.jpgMarion M. Graham Collegiate believes every student has potential. But to succeed in school and in life, students need to show up. Regular attendance is a strong predictor of student success. Being present fosters engagement, builds relationships and creates a sense of belonging — elements that fuel a learner's confidence and drive to finish. 

Saskatoon Public Schools launched the #BeHere to Succeed Here attendance campaign to encourage students to show up for school every day, on time. 

Parents and guardians can help their child succeeded in school by building the habit of good attendance and demonstrating the importance of school. Community partners, such as United Way of Saskatoon & Area, will be joining us in this campaign. 

We believe every student belongs here and learning goes hand in hand with good attendance! Being present at school has a huge impact on a student's academic success beginning in kindergarten and continuing through high school.

Even as children grow older and become more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.

Things parents can do to help their teen feel positive about school include finding out if their child feels engaged by their classes, helping them stay on top of academic progress and encouraging them to seek help from teachers if necessary.

Parents can encourage participation in meaningful extracurricular activities, including sports and clubs. Be aware of your child's social contacts; peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.

Download tips on how parents can support good attendance for their high school student

Did You Know?

  • Missing 10 per cent (or about 18 days) can drastically affect a student's academic success.
  • Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
  • Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.
  • Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
  • Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child when they transition to post-secondary education and employment.