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Week 5: Every Day Matters
Happy Friday!
Thank you all for the steady work you have given as we move through September. This is the time of year when routines are set, expectations are clear, and we begin to see patterns in attendance, discipline, and student engagement. These patterns reveal a great deal about our performance, and they remind us that consistency is crucial. They also tie directly into the performance targets we have set as a district, keeping us focused on daily actions that lead to long-term growth.
In this week’s Wrap-up, I would like to highlight our progress and challenges with attendance and engagement, remind everyone of the importance of professional development, share the results from our Open House parent survey, reflect on a successful Grandparents’ Day, and conclude with celebrations of academic and athletic achievements across the district.
Attendance and Engagement
This week, the Office for Education Policy at the University of Arkansas released the state’s Chronic Absenteeism Report, which includes data for Mena Public Schools. You can read the full report here: Chronic Absenteeism Report 2025.
While our overall attendance rate compares well with the state, our chronic absenteeism rate is several points higher. This means too many of our students are missing more than ten percent of school days, regardless of whether those absences are excused or unexcused. The result is the same—lost instructional time and lost growth opportunities.
Part of the concern comes from how chronic absenteeism is calculated. Excused absences count the same as unexcused, which means a student may appear in this category even when legitimate reasons are involved, other than school activities, which are not absences. In addition, incorrectly marked exemptions in eSchool may be inflating the numbers further, which is something we will continue to correct. Regardless of the cause, the impact is the same: students missing too much school.
As a district, we must make this a point of focus. Attendance progress has been made in the district, but chronic absenteeism is still a district-wide challenge. The key is the early action of catching attendance issues before they become chronic. This means reaching out to families as soon as patterns emerge, not just after thresholds are crossed. Every contact matters. A quick call from a teacher saying, “We missed your child today,” can make a lasting difference. Identifying students who struggled with attendance last year and checking in early this year is another important step.
Addressing chronic absenteeism is not about statistics; it is about student success. Students who are present every day are far more likely to achieve academically, feel connected, and graduate with confidence. Every day matters, and together we can help our students build the consistency they need to thrive.
Professional Renewal
September is also the time when our own energy can begin to level off. That is why this is the right moment to focus on professional renewal. Please make sure you are completing your required professional development and trainings in PowerSchool, logging your PD hours in the Shoebox on ESC Works, and staying ahead of any license renewals. For those with licenses expiring in December, please do not wait until the deadline is upon you. If you need assistance, Mrs. Newman or Mrs. Buckley can help with license renewals, and Mrs. Buckley is also available to answer questions about paperwork or professional development. The
Published on 2 months ago