JOHNSTON COUNTY – Read to Grow Johnston County held its second annual “Attendance Matters” poster contest in September to celebrate Attendance Awareness Month. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the year.
Read to Grow encouraged all county elementary school students to submit a poster highlighting “Why Attendance Matters” and received 74 submissions. A winner was chosen from each grade and will have their poster displayed at their school.
The winners included: (top row – left to right): AnnaMarie Gonzalez Bruno (4th grade, Homeschool), Nicoleth Andrismar Ortiz Marcano (3rd grade, Glendale Kenly Elementary), Piper Wilhide (5th grade, Princeton Elementary), and Lucía Suárez (4th grade, West Clayton Elementary). Bottom row left to right: Rory Wahl (1st grade, Riverwood Elementary), Adelaide Ramirez (2nd grade, Selma Elementary), Samuel Ruiz (2nd grade, River Dell Elementary), and Gabriel Morris (Kindergarten, Cleveland Elementary).
Each contest winner received a Read to Grow backpack filled with items to promote good attendance and creativity.
Chronic student absenteeism is a problem as early as kindergarten and preschool. Half the students who miss two to four days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school. By helping families build the habit of attendance in the early grades through routines, it can help families influence their children’s chances of graduating from high school.
Read to Grow Johnston County joined the National Campaign for Grade Level Reading in June 2021. Read to Grow consists of a wide variety of community members including business leaders, faith community members, families, Partnership for Children of Johnston County (PFCJC), My Kids Club, and Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS).
What terrific looking posters!
Congratulations to the winners.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed and participated.