In a recent government meeting, officials highlighted the significant progress made by East End Community School in reducing chronic absenteeism. The school reported a notable decrease in absenteeism rates across five out of seven grade levels, with current figures showing a drop from approximately 21% last year to 12.9% this year for the same period.

Assistant Principal Kelly Thornhill shared insights into the school’s revamped approach to attendance, emphasizing a shift from reactive to preventative strategies. This change was influenced by a collaboration with Jess Anderson from Count Me In, which helped the school focus on universal actions that benefit all students rather than addressing absenteeism on a case-by-case basis.

Key initiatives implemented include classroom lessons on the importance of attendance, regular communication with families regarding absences, and the introduction of incentives such as recognition for students with perfect or near-perfect attendance. The school has also begun sending monthly attendance reports to parents, aiming to keep families informed about their children's attendance records.

Thornhill expressed optimism about the ongoing efforts, noting that the attendance team feels more productive and engaged in their meetings. The school plans to continue monitoring attendance trends and adjusting strategies as necessary to further improve student attendance throughout the academic year.