In an effort to bolster classroom attendance, Pickerington Local Schools has teamed up with The Stay in the Game. The Attendance Network and local MLS club, Columbus Crew, to roll out "Stay in the Game! Keep Learning Every Day" — a new campaign aimed directly at reeling in the truancy rate among students. As September's Attendance Awareness Month kicks into full gear, the focus is sharply on encouraging kids to rack up as many days in school as possible, the district said in a recent announcement.
The campaign's urgency is underscored by some pretty stark numbers. Skipping just a couple of school days each month can lead to a whopping 20 days of missed education per year. To briefly lay down the educational costs, that's 30 hours of math and twice as much time for reading and writing gone down the drain. By the time a student caps off their high school career, they could easily have forfeited an entire year's worth of learning. In an effort to combat these trends, the district is imploring parents and students alike to literally take the pledge to show up daily.
As per Pickerington Local Schools' announcement, it's not all doom and gloom on the absentee front. "Taking the Stay in the Game! Attendance Pledge" could quickly turn into a family activity, with kids and parents uniting under a shared goal of consistent attendance. There's a palpable hope that a simple act of commitment can inspire a change in the seemingly mundane yet crucial act of getting to school each day.
The district is making it all too easy to join in the effort, with a downloadable pledge form available on the Pickerington Local Schools website. Beyond just a formality, this signed promise might serve to actively remind students and families of their part to play in the larger educational process. The message is clear: every day counts, and there's a community-wide push to ensure every student has the chance to truly stay in the game and to not only meet but exceed their potential in the classroom.
