NEWS RELEASE: RCS Announces “Safe Walk” Campaign, Return of Attendance Program
Roseville Community Schools is excited to announce the launch of the Safe Walk to School campaign, a new initiative aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of students as they travel to and from school each day. The district also announced the return of the 6-Cess program, which encourages and recognizes consistent student attendance.
The Safe Walk to School campaign formed out of a recommendation from the district’s Attendance Committee, looking for proactive ways for the community to get involved with helping students get to school safely. “As a community, it is vital that we work together to create a safe environment for our children,” said Superintendent Mark Blaszkowski. “With this in mind, we are asking all parents, guardians, and community members to be vigilant during school arrival and dismissal times.” Blaszkowski said that he simply asks the community for help by keeping an eye and ear out as students are traveling to and from school. “We ask our residents that if they observe any suspicious behavior or activities around our schools, we strongly encourage you to report it immediately to the Roseville Police Department. Your proactive involvement can make a significant difference in keeping our children safe.”
The district has also produced yard signs for community homes and businesses to further promote the initiative. “The signs will help raise awareness of our campaign and serve as a reminder for everyone to stay alert,” Blaszkowski added. Yard signs are available at each of the schools as well as the administration building. If you are interested in obtaining a sign, please contact the Superintendent's office at (586) 445-5505.
The district’s 6-Cess program celebrates students who have less than six absences per semester, both excused and unexcused. The program was created in 2016, serving as a successful attendance incentive program throughout the schools for several years before the pandemic shut it down. “The 6-Cess program is an incentive-based initiative and does not affect student grades,” said Blaszkowski. “It is designed to motivate and reward students for their efforts to be in school regularly, contributing positively to their learning experience.” He adds that with the understanding that illnesses and emergencies happen, the goal of the 6-Cess program is to promote the importance of being present as much as possible.
Blaszkowski said that research consistently shows that students who attend school every day are more likely to succeed academically and develop essential life skills. “According to recent studies, students who miss just two days of school per month are at a significantly higher risk of falling behind in reading, math, and other core subjects. Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, can lead to students being up to two full grade levels behind their peers by the end of high school. This gap in learning can have long-lasting effects on a student’s future, including lower graduation rates and reduced opportunities for college and career success.”
Schools offer weekly, monthly, and yearly 6-Cess incentive opportunities to students, which can include classroom trophies, extra recess, raffle prizes, pizza parties, ice cream treats, and more - all designed to recognize and celebrate consistent attendance in a fun and engaging way. Kaiser Elementary Principal Kelly Grider said that recognizing attendance more frequently has improved attendance. “We use attendance tracking to document and track the percentage of students present by classroom. Each Monday, we announce the classrooms with the highest attendance from the previous week during our morning meetings and the winning class receives the “ACE” bear, symbolizing “Attendance Counts Everyday.”
Blaszkowski offered helpful tips for parents and guardians who play such a crucial role in helping children develop good attendance habits. “Establish a consistent routine by setting a regular bedtime and wake-up schedule to ensure your child gets the recommended amount of sleep each night. Prepare for school the night before by laying out clothes, pack backpacks, and prepare lunches the evening before to reduce morning stress and ensure a smooth start to the day. Talk with your child about the importance of attendance and why going to school every day is important for their learning and future success. And finally, be wise with appointments by trying to schedule medical appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.”
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