The La Habra City School District is kicking off the 2024-25 school year with a renewed focus on student attendance through its “Show Up, Shine Bright” campaign — introduced as part of Attendance Awareness Month, which is recognized in September.
Last year, the district reintroduced its Attendance Champions program, which contributed to a more than 4.6 percent improvement in student attendance compared to the previous year. Dr. Cammie Nguyen, assistant superintendent of special education and student services, noted that while the program was successful, the new initiative was launched to further engage students and families.
“This new campaign not only motivates students to be present but also emphasizes the ongoing need for family engagement in support regular attendance,” Nguyen said.
To build on last year’s momentum, the district’s school counselors revamped attendance protocols over the summer and introduced new materials for the new initiative — including stickers, banners and pins — at back-to-school events to engage students, staff and families in the importance of daily attendance.
“Our goal is to create excitement among staff, students and families about the value of coming to school daily, contributing to a thriving and supportive school environment,” said David Soto, the district’s public information officer.
Through these combined efforts, La Habra City School District aims to achieve higher attendance rates and stronger family engagement throughout the year.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean has appointed Dennis Cole, who joined OCDE in 2016 and has built a strong reputation for fostering community partnerships, as his new chief of staff.
- Inside the Outdoors and OC Parks are inviting volunteers to the 2024 California Coastal Cleanup Day at Upper Newport Bay on Sept. 21. Participants will help restore the wetland.
- To beat the heat, Orange County football teams are adjusting practice and game times, including Villa Park’s 9 a.m. kickoff against Upland on Saturday, as schools follow new state regulations to prevent heat illness.
- The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for Orange County through Friday. The OC Health Care Agency advises precautions such as staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous outdoor activities and monitoring for signs of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- The Orange County Board of Education has requested that the county superintendent work with OCDE staff to develop an ethnic studies curriculum for its ACCESS Program and to be available for other districts.
- Disparities in school funding and student achievement across Orange County districts highlight significant variations in per-student spending and educational outcomes, as noted in an OC Register column.
- The student-led Period Club at Fullerton Union High School, a local chapter of the global nonprofit Period, Inc., is addressing menstrual stigma and period poverty on campus and in communities as far as Kenya’s Maasai Mara tribe.
- As the school year begins, parents are raising concerns about child safety after the Orange City Council — amid budget cuts to address a $19 million deficit — discontinued a program that provided crossing guards at 14 Orange Unified schools, according to the OC Register.
- Huntington Beach Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Carolee Ogata brings over 32 years of experience in education to her role, in which she will guide the district through state and federal budget concerns while drawing on her extensive background as a teacher, principal and director of instruction and personnel.
- The Cypress School District Board of Trustees is interviewing four candidates on Sept. 16 to fill a vacancy left by trustee Sandra Lee’s recent resignation from Trustee Area C, which includes Arnold and Landell elementary schools.
- California legislators have approved a bill to include the landmark Mendez v. Westminster desegregation case in the state’s history curriculum, pending the governor’s signature.
- State lawmakers are pushing for the full implementation of the English Learner Roadmap Policy — introduced seven years ago — by requiring the state to create a comprehensive plan to ensure all districts adopt practices that support English learners.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.