District News
Data: Be Here Get There attendance campaign helping students get to school
Harlem Globetrotter to visit elementary school with best attendance record
The rate of Seattle Public Schools students missing classes is at the lowest level in five years, according to preliminary data from schools.
The Be Here. Get There. attendance campaign – a joint initiative launched in September by Seattle Public Schools, the city of Seattle, the Alliance for Education and Get Schooled – is designed to raise awareness of the importance of going to school and uses prizes and recognition to motivate students.
“I’m happy to see the attendance campaign adding value to our work,” said Dr. Susan Enfield, Interim Superintendent. “Absentee rates are lower so far this year, compared to previous years. As we continue into the second half of the school year, we’ll continue to recognize classrooms across the District that improve attendance.”
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said the preliminary data is encouraging. "This is good news and supports our recently doubled Families & Education Levy. I thank all of our community partners, especially the students, parents, teachers and administrators who are making this effort possible,” he said.
This data comes as the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools announce new incentives in their ongoing attendance campaign, including a partnership with the Harlem Globetrotters, an exhibition basketball team.
Harlem Globetrotters help with campaign
To re-energize students and parents after the holidays, with the hopes of improving Average Daily Attendance, the Be Here. Get There. campaign has partnered with the Harlem Globetrotters for a short-term challenge to elementary schools.
For the entire month of January, the school with the best attendance record will receive a visit from a Harlem Globetrotter and an assembly for the entire school.
Additionally, each high school will receive a prize pack with four Harlem Globetrotters tickets and a free large pizza donated by Papa Murphy’s to raffle off in the month of January. The Harlem Globetrotters will be in Washington Feb. 23-26 as part of the 2012 Harlem Globetrotters World Tour.
Please share your success stories
But prizes and recognition are just a small piece of the puzzle. As the Be Here Get There attendance campaign continues, Seattle Public Schools and the city of Seattle want to start sharing stories about how teachers, administrators, principals and staff are impacting students and motivating them to get to school.
Do you know someone who is making a difference in the Be Here Get There campaign? Send your story to Sam Johnston at sam.johnston@seattle.gov.
Story includes information from the office of Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn