just GO to school - Pledge to Attend School and Enter to Win an OLD NAVY $50 Gift Card!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
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Amy Bizzarri
Recent posts
World Nutella Day! Saturday, February 5th - 2/1/2011
Review and Giveaway: Shakespeare for Kids - Macbeth at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater - 1/31/2011
Art on a Cold Winter's Day - 1/19/2011
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Just Go to School! is the motto of the (every)day at CPS. Attendance is a HUGE problem that our teachers (and schools and the community at large) deal with on a daily basis. The first person to be affected it the student, who will fall behind more than you can imagine, every absent day. Even worse to contemplate is the fact that by third grade, a child's absenteeism rate and grades can predict with 90% accuracy whether he or she will complete high school.
The other students in the class are then stalled as they sit and wait while the teacher tries to bring the missing students up to speed (as much as possible, which is never completely possible when too many days are lost).
The school and the community suffer because budgets are in part determined by how many children attend school. And when the budget is cut, money for classroom materials is cut, class size increases, when the school fails, property values drop...the list of negative results goes on and on.
All because one (two, three, four, five - it seems to somehow cause a snowball effect) child was absent (most of the time, I can assure you, at least at the high-school level here at CPS, it's because he or she just didn't feel like coming to school).
To boost attendance in Chicago Public Schools, Old Navy recently awarded shopping sprees to 200 lucky students from Wentworth, Oglesby, Westcott and Woods Elementary schools who pledged to go to class more often. Doors opened early on Tuesday, August 31st at the State Street Old Navy location for students to get free back- to-school clothes in exchange for an attendance pledge. Old Navy will also be offering shopping sprees to all the students (in the participating schools) who have reached perfect attendance at the end of the year.
In honor of Old Navy's efforts to help improve school attendance rates, I have a $50 Old Navy Gift that I'd love to give away to a reader - perfect for some late Autumn school duds. I'll choose a winner mid-next week and notify you via the comments section and email. All you have to do is: Subscribe to my blog and then leave a comment below, answering the question: How will you make sure your kids are attending class every day?
Amy Bizzarri is a mom of two living in Logan Square. She also blogs at tiramisumom.com.
See more of Amy's stories here.
Go To SchoolBy Anne L on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 We drop off, and pick up, our children at the door. School staff are there to greet them and to release them to us. In addition to making sure the children attend school, it provides more safety. |
windy city mamaBy melanie on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 my kids enjoy school alot and have alot of friends , sono problems here. |
Pledge to Attend School and Enter to Win an OLD NAVY $50 Gift Card!By Karen D on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 Going to school is very important - talking with my children about their day, the good and the bad, the difficult and the rewarding - it's more than just getting them to class. It's showing your children you are interested in what they are doing and how much you care about what goes on with them during the day. |
Just go to School PledgeBy Maritza on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I prepare his clothes the night before. Get up make a nice big breakfast, prepare his lunch. Get him up and ready. Walk to school way before the first bell. At this point in his life he is excited to go and be with his classmates. |
schoolBy Tanya on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I drive my oldest to school and take my middle child to the bus stop. I also check their attendance online at least once a week. |
back 2 school dailyBy dionne penman on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 Since I teach high school I need to be in class @ 8 am everyday. In order for both of my sons to be in class on time everyday, my dad makes sure he walks them both to their classrooms everyday on time. I also check in with their teachers to make sure they are learning and paying attention |
PledgeBy Chris Howe on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 Keep them healthy! |
"School #1"By Monica on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 My daughter loves to attend school. She see's me attending school and knows how important school is to the both of us, She enjoys telling me everyday what she did in school and loves to hear what I have learned in school as well. I love that we are able to share our day of school to one another. |
Love itBy laura duggan on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I really enjoyed the most recent Chicago Parent. Got some great ideas! |
PledgeBy jan Dorrance on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 School is like building blocks and I don't want my children to miss any. |
SchoolBy Isabella on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I pledge to get her to school every day. |
Make it funBy Stephanie Warner on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I have a preschooler so "making" them go to school is easy since I drive him and walk him in. The hard part is making sure that he loves school and continues to love it as he gets older. I read lots of fun books about school and get excited when we talk about it. I make sure we get involved by asking lots of questions and make it sound whatever he did (just making straight lines) is the coolest thing ever. As a parent - I need to make sure that he loves learning. |
SchoolBy Sterling on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I lay out her clothes, make her lunch and pack her backpack the night before. |
school attendanceBy Kateryna on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I will always talk to my kids as to grown ups: explain things, consequences, why is it important to be in school. That's what my mom did. It worked for me :) |
SchoolBy Heather h. on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I drive my son to school everyday and make sure that I am involved in his school and activities. He is only in 4th grade but we make sure to always discuss the importance of school and a good education! |
attending schoolBy Krsita on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 We have a routine. I wake them up at 6:20. They must be down at breakfast by 6:40. Brushing teeth and packing backpacks by 6:50. Out the door by 7:00. |
attending schoolBy Theresa on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 We get as much done the night before as possible. Lunches are made ahead and backpacks are filled with whatever needs to go to school the next day. |
attending schoolBy Theresa on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 We get as much done the night before as possible. Lunches are made ahead and backpacks are filled with whatever needs to go to school the next day. |
AttendanceBy Luz Galvan on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I always try to explain how they will be missing something important if they miss school, like picture day, music class, gym. Other times I tell them that their work will double because they will still have to make up for the day they missed. |
SchoolBy Jean on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I just signed up to receive your blog via email. Sorry, I am not on facebook. I am making sure that my daughter knows how important school is in her life. In fact, it is top priority. We practice "school time" at home, ask her about her day at school and she sees how involved we are at her school. These are just some of the things we are doing to make sure our daughter understands the importance of going to school each and every day. |
SCHoolBy Jo on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I subscribed! I will make sure my kids will get to school by making sure they get on the bus every morning, making sure they do their homework, and providing them with the academic help that that need. |
Getting to schoolBy Nicole on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 Fortunately my daughter likes going to school, so there are no problems there. However, getting her and her 2 brothers out of the house on time is a problem, so we prep a lot the night before. Back pack is always packed, reading log recorded, and clothes are laid out the night before! |
Old navyBy Georgene on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I will make sure they have a good breakfast and lunch to get them through their days |
Early shows persistenceBy Meghan on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 As hectic as our mornings are, I am able to make sure my kids attend school and on time at that. I go to school myself, which is Monday through Thursday each class starting at 8 a.m., my daughter has to be at school by 7:50, and my sons pre-school is right in-between our schools....so in order to have a productive morning I get together as much as possible the night before such as clothes, lunches, etc. We leave the house at 7:30, I drop my daughter off, drop my son off, then make it to school by 8....woooo!!! |
SchoolBy Marisa on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I will make them get up on time, make them a good breakfast and make sure they get to school before the first bell. |
Attending schoolBy Daisy Mae on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I drive the kids to school everyday since there is no bus service, so I know they get to school on time everyday. |
attendanceBy Lisa Litberg on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 I watch him get on the school bus every morning! It would be hard for him to not make it to class! |
and the winner is.....
By Amy - Windy City Mama on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
...Kateryna! Thanks for entering. I will be contacting you shortly via email so we can make arrangements to send out your gift card. Thanks so much for entering everyone! and be on the lookout for more great giveaways soon!