Prestwick STEM Academy
Prestwick Profile - Community Vol. 7 September 9
September is Attendance Awareness Month
Why attendance matters: When kids miss school, their learning suffers
Educators and parents alike agree: Keeping kids in school matters. When kids miss school, their learning suffers.
Research shows that missing too many days of class leads to lower test scores and lower grades. If it continues through middle school, it’s likely the student won’t last through high school.
By the time freshman year rolls around, it becomes a better dropout indicator than test scores.
What is chronic absenteeism? The tipping point for chronic absenteeism seems to be missing 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days — excused or unexcused. That may sound like a lot, but it can be as little as two days a month, and that can add up quickly.
Chronic absence is a pervasive challenge affecting the entire nation. Nationwide, 16 percent of all students — or one out of seven — is chronically absent. In Florida, 18.1 percent of students in the 2015-16 school year missed so many days they were chronically absent.
How can we fix this problem? Today, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires all states to report on chronic absence. Almost one-third of states adopted a chronic absence metric in their state plans. We see an opportunity for schools and districts to use this metric to avoid laying blame on families or students, and encouraging active problem solving that focuses on removing barriers to being in class.
A promising example of this is happening in Manatee County. The School Board of Manatee County’s Graduation Enhancement Technician program provides Title 1 schools with a valuable tool in addressing chronic absenteeism. The Graduation technicians serve as the main point of contact for families with students struggling with poor attendance and partner with them to find solutions. Manatee is now examining how their work can be further enhanced and supported by a team, led by the principal, that ensures attention to attendance is integrated to their overall approach to school improvement.
One pitfall is to look at chronic absence as a compliance issue. Instead, educators and families can look at the academic consequences of this lost instructional time for all students. Chronic absence recognizes that students miss school for many understandable reasons, such as untreated asthma or lack of access to medical care, homelessness or unreliable transportation. In these types of cases, a punitive response is not appropriate.
That is why we sponsor a national messaging campaign — the Attendance Awareness Campaign — focused on getting out the word that chromic absence is a solvable issue. Schools and districts can move the needle on chronic absence when the entire community focuses data to identify the root causes of chronic absence and joins forces to collaborate on solutions.
With this year’s Attendance Awareness Campaign motto, We Belong in School! we’re calling on everyone — from educators to health professionals to local agency and business partners — to do what they can to help create welcoming and engaging schools that encourage daily attendance. We know that students are more likely to attend school if they feel emotionally and physically safe, are connected to adults in school, and believe they can learn and achieve. Read our Key Messages for the campaign at the website listed below.
Schools and districts shouldn’t think they need to address this problem on their own, especially when chronic absence levels are high. Taking steps to improve attendance begins when everyone in the community recognizes they have a stake and a role. In Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is working with the school districts, local governments, businesses, nonprofits and community leaders to reduce chronic absenteeism and improve outcomes for the children in the region. This requires careful attention to data and strategic, locally tailored interventions to address attendance challenges as soon as chronic absence emerges as a problem.
Join the Attendance Awareness Campaign today! Together we can nurture a culture of engagement and attendance that encourages showing up every day even when it isn’t easy.
Find out more about the national Attendance Awareness Campaign, and sign up to receive regular updates about what you can do to move the needle on chronic absenteeism: https://awareness.attendanceworks.org/
Hedy N. Chang is the executive director of Attendance Works, a national non-profit initiative dedicated to improving educational equity and student achievement by reducing chronic absence. The website offers strategies, tools, research and blogs about reducing chronic absence. Visit www.attendanceworks.org.
Prestwick LEarns- Vounteerism Helps Us ALL be better
Contact your child's teacher or our leadership team to sign up to help in any of these ways:
- act as a classroom helper
- mentor or tutor students
- help work at fundraising activities
- act as a lunchroom or playground monitor
- Work at the lobo loot store - offered each Wednesday during lunch times
- help to plan and chaperone field trips, dances, field day)
- help the school administrators prepare grant proposals
- work as a library assistant or offer to help with story time or reading assistance in the school library
- volunteer to speak in the classroom or at a career day or our lunch and learn events, if you have a field of expertise that you'd like to share
One of the most meaningful ways we seek community input is our Watch D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students) program. This is a chance for us to have positive male role models on campus and part of our daily routines. This week Mr. Witcher joined us and students including his daughters loved having him on campus.
Just a few simple steps to sign up:
1. Complete the sign up sheet.
2. Complete the LEISD background check form
3. Check your calendar and choose your date(s) and times on the monthly sign up genius
Each of these steps are located for easy access on our website (click here). We also recommend you contact our fantastic Watch DOGS liasion, Ken Beber, at PSAWatchDOGS@gmail.com
Friday, September 20th, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. @ PRESTWICK STEM ACADEMY
Free pizza and Drinks. Please fill out and submit this Google form to help provide accurate head count for pizza and drink.
Have questions about the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) Program at Prestwick STEM Academy or interested in signing-up? Please contact Ken Beber at PSAWatchDOGS@gmail.com for my information.
Staff Spotlight
This week our spotlight is on a new member of the PSA FamiLE, Ms. Stephanie Huntsman
Here is what she has to say about herself:
Hello Prestwick FamiLE!
My name is Stephanie Huntsman and I am beyond thrilled to share this year with you all! I graduated from Texas Christian University in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and an emphasis in Special Education. This will be my third year teaching and my second year in 4th Grade. I am so excited to grow my students' knowledge and love of Social Studies throughout our exploration of Texas History as well as share my passion for Reading and Writing.
Some of my hobbies include cheering for the Horned Frogs, traveling, exploring nature with my dog, spending time with friends and family, and reading for pleasure.
I am so excited to get to know my students and their families. I'm looking forward to a fantastic year of learning and growth!
Thursday Thoughts
PTA Needs You!!
Destination Imagination Information Meeting September 12 @ 5:30
Important Dates
September 9, 6 p.m. Parent Education Academy Session (at LMS)
September 12, 5:30 p.m. Destination Imagination Information Night (at Prestwick)
September 16, 6:30 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting (at Zellars)
September 17, 5:00 PTA Meeting & Curriculum Night (at Prestwick)
September 17, 6 p.m. Tuesday Talks Session (at LEHS)
Prestwick Run club for grades 4/5 and 6-8. Please click on the link below if you are interested!!
Please Volunteer for Our Lobo Loot Store!!
Athletic Passes are now Digital
The athletic department has switched to mobile athletic passes through GoFan (Huddle Tickets) the same company anyone can currently buy our athletic online tickets from.
The suggested way for student athletes to get their pass is to download the GoFan - High School Tickets app to their phone and go to Little Elm High School and click on 2019-2020 Student Athletic Pass.
Instructions for Athletic Passes.
1. Download the GoFan app in the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
2. Search Little Elm High School.
3. Find 2019 2020 Student Athletic Pass and click on it.
4. Enter Student ID in the promo code box. Click 'Apply'. (Please note: all student IDs are limited to one pass) (You DO NOT need a credit card)
2. Enter 1 in Qty box.
3. Click 'Buy Tickets'.
4. Log-in or create a GoFan account (email and password). This ensures you receive your confirmation email and pass. (You DO NOT need a credit card)
5. Enter additional information. Once all fields are completed, click 'Submit'.
6. Click 'Buy Tickets'.
8. Login with the account you used to purchase the pass.
9. Click "My Tickets" to access your pass at any time.
If someone needs to do it from the Website here is the link - https://gofan.co/app/school/TX11531. However, make sure they understand they MUST have their phone and the pass pulled up on their phone for entry.
Athletic & PE Gear Ordering Forms
My School Bucks Challenge
Parent organizations can register for a challenge with myschoolbucks. The top 10 school organizations with the most new parent sign-ups from Aug. 1-Oct. 15 will win a donation of $1,000!
Community Section
Rock the Doc 5K Run
Saturday, September 14, 2019
https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/LittleElm/RocktheDoc
Start Time: 8:30am CDT
End Time: 10:30am CDT
Price: $30.00 Race Fee + $2.50 SignUp Fee
Registration: Registration ends September 12, 2019 at 11:59pm CDT
PLACE
701 W Eldorado Pkwy
Little Elm, TX US 75068
DESCRIPTION
Rock the Doc honors Dr. Robert J. Dennington, the highly regarded orthodontist. A longtime Little Elm Resident, Doc was an esteemed community leader who served on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce and was the first orthodontist in the town. He passed away from complications of lymphoma on September 23, 2008. This race celebrates our beloved Doc and all that he represented in the community.