Deep Learning: Attendance Matters! St. Teresa and St. Patrick students hold summit to emphasize the importance of attending class

Nov. 1, 2024

In 2023-24, only 34 per cent of St. Teresa Catholic Elementary School students achieved regular attendance (missing no more than nine days per school year).

Mostly decked out in purple shirts, students of Breanne Stoner’s Grade 6/7 class at St. Teresa Catholic Elementary School say ‘your attendance matters.’

The class invited Janet Brzozowski’s Grade 7 class from St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School to the Attendance Summit on Nov. 1,2024 at St. Teresa CES.

The summit, which is aimed at boosting attendance numbers at the schools, is part of a Deep Learning Inquiry project by both classes. 

“We’re trying to make it so that kids want to come to school and be more excited about school and have (a) reason to come,” said Colby Church, St. Teresa CES Grade 7 student. “I didn’t realize how bad our attendance was last year and we’re fixing it this year. Come to school!”

The Deep Learning Inquiry project is a model where students take charge of their learning by exploring issues they are passionate about, while teachers facilitate resources and opportunities for deeper exploration.

“It’s really exciting as an educator. Instead of me constantly directing the students, they’re determining the direction they need to head into. They’re figuring out different solutions to problems that present themselves and becoming innovative learners,” said Stoner. “They’re becoming more aware of how to develop community partnerships, use technology to help them with their skills and, generally, their problem solving skills will improve.”

The Ministry of Education defines regular school attendance as being at school 95 per cent of the time or missing no more than nine days per school year.

Last year, St. Teresa CES only saw 34 per cent of its student population achieve this benchmark which led students this year to take a look at why this has been happening.

Some of the reasons that students stated during an open discussion may include mental health, illness, issues at home or simply not wanting to go to school.

“I learned how bad our attendance was last year and how much it improved this year,” said Quetzalli Gay Hernandez, a Grade 7 student. “Come to school and connect with other people.  Your attendance matters!”

“I think it’s important that kids come to school to get a career.  If you don’t come to school, when you get older, it gets much harder if you didn’t come and missed a subject.” added Grade 6 student Max Eakins

“This is a multifaceted, complex issue.  We’re looking at things from so many different angles,” added Stoner. “We know that many students don’t attend school for reasons other than illness.”

The summit featured presentations by students from both classes, a goal coaching session by Michael Temple of Temple Coaching Solutions and included special guests, Trent University nurses Lola Kirkham and Isabella Silvestri, Attendance Counsellor Shauna Mann and Superintendent of Schools Jeannie Armstrong. 

Students also participated in breakout sessions including pedagogical practices, community partnerships, leveraging digital and learning environments.

Another summit will be held, likely this winter, by Brzozowski’s class at St. Patrick CES.