Hathaway Elementary School looks to limit absences

Washougal — Hathaway Elementary School Principal David Tudor is looking for ways to improve student attendance numbers this year, and so the school introduced the “Strive for Five” program. The program educates parents on the negative effects of missing school at the elementary school level through posters, book markers and postcards, and asks them to limit their kids’ absences to no more than five during the school year. Last year, 22 percent of Hathaway students missed five or fewer days during the school year, according to a release from the district. So far, students missing two days or fewer went from 76 percent in September 2015 to 90 percent this September, and from 70 percent in October 2015 to nearly 80 percent this October. Teachers are also involved with the program, and are calling homes of students they are concerned about who have missed class time. “We are also trying to identify if there is a cultural or behavior issue in the classroom affecting attendance that should be addressed,” Tudor said in the release. “We strive for a safe and welcoming environment at the school.”