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REGINA LEADER-POST
Education wEEk 2018 Attendance Matters: Regular attendance contributes to student success
The Honourable Gordon Wyant, Minister of Education, visits a classroom in one of Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions. Su pp li e d ph oto
MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER
Education Week 2018: A World of Learning for Every Student By G orD oN WyANt Saskatchewan Minister of Education
October 14 marks the beginning of Education Week in Saskatchewan, an opportunity to celebrate learning, applaud the achievements of our students, and acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by education professionals throughout our province. This year’s theme – A World of Learning for Every Student – recognizes the multiple pathways to learning that are available to our students and also highlights the tremendous impact of our educators in broadening the horizons and enriching the lives of Saskatchewan students. Preparing students for future success is at the heart of everything we do. With nearly 190,000 students in our 27 school divisions, and more than 205,000 students province-wide including First Nations students on-reserve, our goals outlined in the Education Sector Strategic Plan are tied to ensuring each of these students reach their full potential. The positive results can be seen in improved reading levels and graduation rates. The latest data shows a 10 per cent increase in Grade 3 students reading at or above grade level compared to 2013, and the provincial graduation rate is the highest it has been in 20 years. But the results can also be seen in the inspiring achievements of our students and the innovative studentdriven initiatives being created in our province.
Students from across the province are actively engaged in their learning. We have a high school student in Fort Qu’Appelle who implemented a successful breakfast program for her fellow students through her Leadership 30 class. There are six Saskatchewan high school groups who received awards for their student-led initiatives in areas ranging from peer counselling and mentorship to mental health and bullying. And three Saskatchewan students receiving the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarships which recognize their achievements as future innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Whether their efforts are acknowledged publicly or not, whether it is through their academic achievements or their community involvement, we recognize that every student has the ability to be an innovator, a difference maker and a future leader. As a government, we are proud of the work our teachers do in classrooms across the province to ensure learning is accessible and engaging to all students. We know that education in Saskatchewan is not one-size-fits-all. Unique challenges in classrooms throughout the province demand innovative solutions. Our education sector has risen to that challenge, offering a variety of options, learning methods, and locally developed approaches to meet the learning needs of every student. Innovation and renewal are taking place in a number of areas. Curriculum renewal is
ongoing, ensuring we have a modernized education system that meets the needs of today’s students. New instruction in coding and robotics and financial literacy will create additional opportunities for students, offering them more choices after they graduate and better preparing them for the future with its changing economy and advancing technologies. Renewal and collaboration will continue to be key elements in our education sector moving forward. Our government has committed to a renewed and respectful relationship with all of our education partners. With an additional $30 million provided for the classrooms in the 2018-19 school year, we are already seeing that financial commitment making a difference in our schools and benefiting students and teachers in the classroom. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or a trustee, everyone involved in the education sector shares the common goal of seeing students succeed and build a foundation for their future. In order to continue strengthening our education system, we must continue working together and that means keeping our focus on what matters most – the students. On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, I encourage everyone to take this opportunity during Education Week to acknowledge the important work of our education professionals and to celebrate the many successes and tremendous potential of Saskatchewan students.
THIS SECTION WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, POSTMEDIA’S COMMERCIAL CONTENT DIVISION.
Missing 10 per cent of school, or about 18 days a year, can make it harder for children to learn to read and can cause students to fall behind. Learning, literacy and school success begin with going to school each and every day. It is with the goal of helping students succeed that Regina Public Schools and United Way Regina introduced Attendance Matters™. Attendance Matters, trademarked by United Way, has been adopted by Regina Public Schools as a division-wide initiative that strives to encourage all families to develop school attendance habits that will help encourage all students, from pre-school to Grade 12 to make missing a school day the exception, rather than a pattern. “Determined to support more of Regina’s children to read proficiently by third grade, United Way Regina is proud to partner with Regina Public Schools on the Attendance Matters initiative,” says Robyn Edwards-Bentz, CEO, United Way Regina. “Chronic attendance is an important predictor of future academic success. When schools, families and community partners promote good attendance, and address problems early, student achievement rises and high school graduation increases. United, we all benefit.” ABSENCES ADD UP
In the 2018-19 school year, schools have been working with families and their students to help them understand why going to school regularly contributes to learning. To achieve this goal a series of posters, flyers and videos have been produced that include statistics of the risks of missing school and helpful tips on how to avoid absences. Although missing a day or two doesn’t seem like a lot, the missed days add up. For instance, if a student misses two days of school a month from Kindergarten to Grade 8, that student will have missed an entire year of school! Furthermore, student absences can affect the whole classroom, when the teacher has to slow down the learning to help students who missed lessons catch up. Excellent attendance is ev-
Regina Public Schools and United Way Regina are partnering on a new initiative that encourages all families to develop regular school attendance habits. p hot o: R e gina public SchoolS
eryone’s responsibility. This is why Attendance Matters also provides a number of helpful tips for parents and students to develop routines and plans that will promote good attendance and will contribute to success in school and ultimately graduation. Families are encouraged to: • Set regular bed time and morning routine • Develop back-up plans for getting to school • Avoid medical appointments and family trips when school is in session • Share ideas with other parents for getting out the door and to school on time • Talk about the importance of showing up to school everyday • Find out if the student feels engaged in school and work with school if there are issues that are keeping the student from wanting to go to school. Focussing on attendance is extremely important because it allows students to get into consistent patterns,” says Greg Enion, Director of Education, Regina Public Schools. “These patterns, along with work done by staff in our schools and the support from families and the community, can contribute to
students graduating on time.” At the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, a number of posters featuring students, staff and community members were distributed to all Regina Public Schools. An Attendance Matters video was also created and launched by United Way Regina at the 2018 Power Lunch on September 26, 2018. “It was very important to demonstrate that going to school and focussing on attendance was the responsibility of not only parents, students and staff, but of the whole community,” continues Greg Enion. “This is why, in the Attendance Matters posters and videos, we feature, not only students and school staff, but also leaders from the community.” Besides school division employees, the posters and the Attendance Matters video feature Regina Police Chief Evan Bray; Mayor Michael Fougere; School Community Council Member, Melissa Obey; Journalist Madina Azizi; and Supaman, Indigenous Artist. This material is also making the rounds on social media, through a series of teaser videos and tweets. For more information, please visit www.unitedwayregina.ca and www.rbe.sk.ca.
THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY REgINA PuBLIC SCHOOLS.
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