Five weeks into the school year, United Junior/Senior High School Principal Michael Washabaugh says the year is off to a great start, with a continued emphasis on the importance of strong student attendance:
“Our school improvement team has gotten together twice so far this year, with goals around math, English, and attendance. Keeping kids excited about coming to school everyday and raising their lid on what they can achieve when they are in the classroom and once they get out of our building, they they are able to carry over those skills we are working with them on,” informs Washabaugh.
“We have set a goal that we are above 92 percent in our building on attendance. Ours is a little unique because we have the Junior High and Senior High, so we do track that separately. We have had great attendance. It has been very, very good through the first month of school. Along with that, the involvement in all extracurricular, not just sports, but our numbers across the board, seeing the kids involved in many things is a goal of mine. The staff do a tremendous job of allowing that,” Washabaugh adds.
Washabaugh also noted the positive response to the school’s cell phone ban, as well as the transition away from students carrying backpacks from class to class.
