Dear Stevenson High School Families,

We want to thank you for your partnership in your student's education. We understand that ensuring regular school attendance can be challenging, and we are here to support you.

The purpose of this letter is to highlight the importance of consistent attendance for a student's success. Research shows that every school day counts. Students with a strong attendance record are more likely to earn higher grades, and chronic absenteeism—missing 10% or more of the school year—is a leading indicator of lower graduation rates and future challenges. Absences, even excused ones, can create learning gaps that are difficult to bridge as lessons build on each other.

Understanding Truancy

We also want to share some information regarding truancy. While the term can sound formal or intimidating, at Stevenson High School, we view truancy—specifically a pattern of unexcused absences—as a signal that a student or family may need additional resources.

When unexcused absences reach a certain threshold, state guidelines require us to take specific administrative steps. However, please know that our goal in these moments is not to penalize, but to problem-solve. We want to understand the "why" behind the absences—whether it’s related to transportation, health, anxiety, or other life hurdles—so we can work together to remove those barriers.

Our Support Framework

At Stevenson High School, we believe that regular attendance is a shared responsibility, and our goal is to work with families, not against them. To that end, we utilize a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for attendance. This is an evidence-based framework that allows us to provide the right level of support at the right time:

• Tier 1 (Universal Support): School-wide strategies that promote a positive learning environment for all students.
• Tier 2 (Targeted Intervention): Personalized check-ins and collaborative plans for students who begin to show patterns of absence or unexcused truancy.
• Tier 3 (Intensive Support): Individualized plans with connections to community resources for families facing persistent attendance challenges

We Are Here to Help

We are fortunate to have a dedicated team to help our students and families through this process.  Dr. Lori Roy, Mrs. Jamie Claymore, our building counselors, and our Student Assistance Provider will be working closely with Mrs. Abojamra and our Stevenson families to address attendance issues together.

We will reach out with empathy and understanding to identify the root causes of any attendance challenges and to find a solution that works for everyone. If you are currently struggling to get your student to school, please do not wait for us to call—reach out to us. We are here to help.

Thank you again for your continued support and commitment to your students’ education. We look forward to partnering with you to ensure a successful and bright future for every student.

Sincerely,

Christina Abojamra
Assistant Principal-Attendance Office
Stevenson High School