Sent: September 3, 2021
Make connections
In his weekly message, Supt. Elder writes about the importance of building relationships with students so that they can continue to attend school.
As the first holiday weekend of the new school year begins, I would like to take a moment to thank you and all of the members of the APS team for working so hard to get our students back into the classroom where they belong.
Every time I visit one of our schools, I am touched and relieved by what I see. Simply put, teachers teach, children learn, and staff support. The way it should be.
The trick now is that our students keep coming to school regularly. We know every day of school is important, from kindergarten through senior year of high school. It doesn’t take long for a student to fall behind. Fall far enough and we can lose her.
We can’t let that happen.
Albuquerque Public Schools has developed a tiered approach to attendance that addresses chronic absenteeism by emphasizing awareness, data-driven processes, outreach, early intervention, and care systems. We start by making sure students and families understand the importance of attending school every day. Missing a day here or there might not be a big deal, but absences add up quickly. And missed school days can have a significant impact on student learning and lives now and in the future.
One of the best ways to prevent chronic absenteeism is to build close relationships with our students and their families. This is something we can all do. Regardless of your role in the district, your actions, words, and attitudes help create a supportive educational environment. Let’s make our students and families feel welcome, wanted, and safe. Be a good listener. Be a problem solver. Be trustworthy, honest, and caring.
When we build strong connections, we can work together to overcome obstacles on the way to school. Let’s cultivate a culture that encourages popping up every day, even when it’s not easy.
I don’t avoid the elephant in the room. I realize I am talking about good attendance during a pandemic that is forcing students out of school even if they want to be there. Hundreds of our students had to be quarantined this school year due to exposure to COVID. I expect many more to suffer this fate in the months ahead. The key is to keep in touch with these students and their families, just as we should all students who have difficulty getting to class.
Fortunately, all APS students now have Chromebooks or iPads to continue studying at home. You can email and chat with your teachers and classmates, access and submit assignments through Google Classroom, and watch video-recorded lectures and presentations. I know some teachers who continue to offer virtual consultations for students who cannot come to school. I appreciate all of our administrators, counselors, social workers, and other staff who get in touch with students, make home calls, and keep in touch.
You make a difference.
September is attendance awareness month, so this is a good time to talk about the importance of going to school and the dangers of chronic absenteeism. But let’s not talk about it until September. This is a year-long struggle that the district is committed to waging on behalf of all students. Thank you for doing your part.
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