Attendance Initiative Community Connector Project Dalhousie School Pembina Trails School Division Friday, March 8, 2013

Starting points for Project Reviewed the overall attendance data across the school division AdHoc Committee of Administrators established priority should be a Focus On Early Years Determined Community Connector role to be an effective application of grant Focused on two elementary schools: Dalhousie and Bairdmore Determined Dalhousie to be the target School after reviewing Stats

Outcomes for the Project  Identification of students and tracking intervention that improves attending behavior  Establish an infrastructure of support for non- attenders  Build strong community relationships and partnerships  Planning for students and families At-Risk

Target Group at Dalhousie school Dalhousie school had identified 29 students from grades K-6 who had significantly missed more than 30% of school as of December, 2011  Attendance  Single Parent Families  Aboriginal Families  Newcomer Families  Manitoba Housing Complex and Low Cost Housing

Target Group at Dalhousie School GradeAt - Risk Single Parent AboriginalNew Canadian Students MB Housing Students in Data for two years K21/22/2n/a1/21/8 175/73/72/73/7 221/2 n/a1/23/8 353/54/52/53/52/8 421/2 n/a1/2 554/53/5 1/8 664/63/61/63/61/8 29/2919/2916/298/2915/298/8

School Administrator sent out a letter to all identified students between kindergarten and Grade 4– 18 students Invitation to ‘Getting our Kids to School Program’ Parent/s had to give signed permission for their child to participate

What is a Community Connector??? #1 Increase the relationship between family and child Maintain a connection with student and family #2 Build a connection that individualizes supports to each child/youth and family Manages to connect with student at home and school Focuses on bridging a relationship with parent #3 Knowledgeable about the community

Community Connector Community Connector was part of Dalhousie Staff She had a number of years working in the Community and knew the students/families Community Connector had support from school social worker on a regular basis As students were identified, school social worker and Community Connector met the families together and explained the program. Word of Mouth –throughout community/between parents

Community Connector started in April after 2 failed attempts Program ran from April until June, students began the program and 9 completed/ actively participated Students attended each day called on by Community Connector and other students Students were attending and supported by a breakfast program/classroom/library upon entering school if required Students went to classroom upon arriving into school

Original 12 students from June 2012 changed due to transiency and renovations to Housing Complex. Nine students of original 12 continued following and responding to the Community Connector Program-1 student moved in fall. Community Connector added 8 spots of new students to the original 8 that were established in Total 16 students as of February 2013.

Parent Questionnaire At the end of June 2012 Parents, Teachers and Community Connector completed questionnaires and provided feedback

Parent Questionnaire June 2012 Being on time Improved attitude toward school More confidence in their school work Feel safer in walking to school Formed new relationships 10/10-yes 4 not returned 10/10-yes 4 not returned 4/10-yes 4/10-sometimes 2/10- no 4 not returned 10/10-yes 4 not returned 6/10-yes 2/10-no 2/10-some 4 not returned

Comments from Parents  I feel at ease that my child gets to school that she likes and is an adult  I really would like the program to continue for next year  This would be very helpful through the winter  I feel this program is great for my children.  My daughter looks forward to Community Connector in the mornings—She is more motivated

Teacher Feedback Students are starting the day with everyone in the class Students have breakfast at school—Healthy Start Building some peer connections in their school community Students are more confident in beginning their day— know what is going on Students are more independent with self help skills— getting dressed/organizing/responsibility Great positive feelings with the school

Lessons Learned Summary of Community Connector Program at Dalhousie School

Summary of Program  Building Trust  Immediate Follow up on an absence  Connection/Relationship  Safety  Everyone has a Role

Essentials Social Worker partnership with Community Connector / Collaborative Relationship Community Connector within School Community—Female made a difference Relationship with families extended to beyond bringing students to school—we needed to be ready to engage them

On Behalf of Pembina Trails SD and Dalhousie School Team we would like to thank the following people: Brenda McDaniel /Manitoba Education Dave Groff /S0cial Worker /PTSD Rachel Scarf /Community Connector Chris Olenick /Educational Assistant Students, Parents & Staff of Dalhousie School