LAKE COUNTY >> The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe donated $1,500 to the Lake County Office of Education (LCOE) to be awarded to the three Lake County schools with the best attendance during the LCOE Inaugural Attendance Challenge.
Sherry Treppa, Chairperson of the Executive Council says, “The leadership of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe is proud to support the efforts of Lake County Office of Education to spotlight the importance of and promote school attendance.”
During the week of March 19 -23, 2018, each Lake County school will try to reach 100% attendance. The Lake County Office of Education will be collecting attendance data throughout that week to determine the winning schools, divided into the following categories:
1. Highest Attendance Percentage for Elementary School
2. Highest Attendance Percentage for Middle School
3. Highest Attendance Percentage for High School
Brock Falkenberg, Lake County Superintendent of Schools explains, “With chronic absenteeism being a true concern for Lake County students, LCOE staff brainstormed solutions to help educate the students, parents and community on the importance of attendance. And thus, the Attendance Challenge was born.”
The definition of “chronic absenteeism” is missing 10 percent of the school year—or about 18 days — for any reason, excused or unexcused. This equals missing two days of school a month.
Rob Young, Emergency Services/Special Projects Coordinator at LCOE, who is responsible for organizing the Attendance Challenge, explains that the winning school in each category will receive $500 to be used to celebrate and support good attendance.
Treppa adds, “When leadership and parents make school attendance a priority, our children get better grades, develop healthy life habits, avoid dangerous behavior and have a better chance of graduating from high school, attending/graduating from college and generally being a successful contributing member of their family, their tribe and society.”
