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Inspiring Learning
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Families have big role in encouraging regular school attendance

March 19, 2019

BeHere 425 x 325.jpgSaskatoon Public Schools believes every student has potential. But in order 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 #BeHere to Succeed Here attendance campaign is designed to encourage students to show up for school every day, on time. 

Parents and guardians can help their child succeed in school by building the habit of good attendance and demonstrating the importance of school. Community partners, such as United Way of Saskatoon & Area, are 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 starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school.

Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school. Even as children grow older and 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.

Download tips for how parents can support good attendance for their elementary student

Did You Know?

  • Missing 10 per cent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read and can drastically affect a student's academic success.
  • Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days per month.
  • 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.
  • By Grade 6, absenteeism is a strong indicator that a student may drop out of high school.
  • By Grade 9, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than Grade 8 test scores.