Ladera Palma Elementary School students have a few more days of bragging rights as the La Habra City School District’s Attendance Champions for the month of October.
At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, the district introduced its “Attendance Champions” program, which was initially created in 2019 as a way to re-engage students, staff and families on the importance of going to school on time and daily. This initiative underscores the belief that all students can achieve academic success, with regular attendance serving as the foundation for their journey.
“This is the first year we are re-introducing the campaign with the intention of refocusing families on coming to school every day to build connection, community and academic achievement,” Dr. Cammie Nguyen, the district’s assistant superintendent of special education and student services, said.
Ladera Palma students earned the highest attendance rate in the district at 95.52 percent. As a result, the campus received a visit from Superintendent Dr. Mario Carlos and other cabinet members, who brought a large banner to let the school community and public know about the achievement.
District administrators and educators are all in with the program, with each site celebrating incremental milestones like best attendance day and week. At Arbolita Elementary, students were invited to a special assembly with ice cream, pizza and activities including throwing sponges at a school counselor and Principal Jennifer McCully-Rodriguez.
Nearby at Imperial Middle School, administrators challenged sixth- through eighth-graders to go to school every day and collectively earn a 97 percent attendance rate. The middle school students accepted the offer and blew staff away each week in September.
The district also recognizes campuses that demonstrate major improvement for the month. In October, the program highlighted El Cerrito Elementary for boosting attendance by nearly two percent and Early Learning for increasing its rate by 6 percent with special events to recognize their efforts in making good attendance a daily commitment.
“We believe all students can achieve, but it first starts with showing up every day,” Dr. Nguyen said.
With a few days remaining in October, the district’s superintendent and cabinet members are looking forward to declaring a new attendance champ in November.