Harter Elementary Students Step Up to the Attendance Challenge!

By Kathy Kisha-Wise, Principal

Harter families, staff, and students accept a challenge and are up for another one. The day is better when all of our Harter Bulldogs are here and ready to learn. Building attendance was shared with families weekly and we saw how important being in school was to student success.

Families worked hard to make attendance at school a top priority and kept our students here and in the classroom where the learning happens. Teachers worked equally hard to keep learning fun and classrooms happening places. Students walked with pride and purpose without missing a minute of valuable time in the classroom.

All of this resulted in the biggest decrease in Chronic Absenteeism in the district at an attendance check-in at the end of April. Not only did the building notice, not only did the district notice, but the Cleveland Browns noticed and awarded Harter Elementary with 100 tickets to the 2023 Monster Jam at the First Energy Stadium on June 3.

Hard work pays off and we can do hard things! With that challenge accepted, Harter Staff have given Kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade Harter Students and families another challenge to consider over the summer. Summer Bridge Books were sent home with every student in our Red Reading Bags with books to read and Red Reading Shades because our future is so bright!

Ninety-five percent of parents and ninety percent of teachers say that if kids keep learning over the summer, they will be more successful in the long run (teacher revolution) because school may stop for the summer, but learning never should. Fifteen minutes of review and practice every day over the summer can keep skills fresh and prevent sum- mer learning loss, along with reading and exploring outside! Harter staff looks forward to seeing the completed Summer Bridge Books at Open House in August! We know Harter Bulldogs will be up for the challenge!