VIDEO: Diocese of Brooklyn Schools Make Attendance Personal Amid Chronic Absenteeism in NYC Public Schools
HOWARD BEACH — It starts at the curb before students even enter the school building. Tara Di Rico, principal of St. Helen Catholic Academy, establishes her school community one fist bump at a time.
“We tell the kids, we want you here. We value you here. It’s important that you’re here in this building with us every day,” Di Rico said.
441 kids walk through the doors each morning. As for the absent few — which hovers around 10 percent — parents and faculty are in constant communication. Di Rico said it extends beyond what is required by protocol.
“Having that relationship with each other and the accountability factor, I think helps us as a school, because what we’re seeing in the city is scary. If they’re not in school, where are they?” she said.
According to the latest data, in New York City’s public schools more than 33 percent — a third of the nation’s largest school district — is chronically absent, missing 10 percent or more of the school year. For students with physical or cognitive disabilities, the rates are even higher. To help stop the surge, the city has deployed school avoidance liaisons — teachers, administrators or counselors who will be trained to work directly with families providing information on mental health and referrals to support services. Luisa Manzo, associate superintendent for inclusive and special education, said that model already exists in Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens.
“We’re learning in groups. We have individualized plans for students that may not learn the same as the student that’s sitting next to them. It is our main priority is to be inclusive,” Manzo said.
“We allow the parents to understand the supports we provide for them for us to assist the child in the immediate,” Di Rico said.
At St. Helen’s, attendance doesn’t start with being seen but feeling seen. It goes both ways — even when student success isn’t one size fits all.
“All my teachers are the people that drive me to be who I am today, to always want to come to school every day,” eighth grader Philip Lavorino said.
“When the teachers show up for you, you should always show up for them,” said seventh grader Gabriella Russo. “You miss a lot of work during school and it’s just really important to be there to learn everything.”
Both systems are focused on student attendance, but educators at St. Helen’s say daily personal connections at the door and at the desk are what sets Catholic education apart.