During the pandemic a new initiative was created by the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division so support students that experienced issues with school attendance.

It is called the Attendance Care Team, Superintendent Gordon Martell says there are always some students who face challenges that impede regular school attendance, and the pandemic amplified that.

Martell says the focus became students who were “slipping through the cracks” to do a better job knowing who they were, where they were, what the impediments to school attendance were and how to get them to reengage in school.

The team consists of a teacher, social worker and an Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator. During the school year, Martell says the team made over 4000 contacts, through door step visits, phone calls and social media connections.

The greatest gaps in school attendance appeared to be in the Southwest sector of GSCS schools, typically serving more vulnerable students. The team reached out to families, delivered learning packages when necessary and working with community partners to support families when needed.

Martell hopes to sustain the initiative to continue to work collaboratively with families in a more supportive way.

The team reached out to families, delivered learning packages when necessary and worked with community partners to support families.

The next steps of the Attendance Care Team include continuing to monitor schools they have connected with and engaging with students using weekly feedback teachers provide for students experiencing attendance challenges.