November Attendance Newsletter

November is here, and while we're all dreaming of turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and a few glorious days without an alarm clock, we've still got some learning to do before the feast! Don't let your attendance fall faster than the autumn leaves! Your bed may be warm, the mornings may be cold, and your motivation may have already left for Thanksgiving break, but the tardy bell didn't get that memo! This month, we're also celebrating Native American Heritage Month, recognizing the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Native American communities, and National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, reminding everyone that not every student has the same challenges getting to school. At SJHS, we want every student to feel supported, connected, and ready to succeed. So, let's show a little gratitude, look out for one another, and remember that the only thing we should be skipping this November is the second helping of Aunt Karen's questionable casserole!

🦃 Why did the turkey get sent to the attendance office?

Because he kept gobbling up excuses for being late! 😂

Be Here. Be Brilliant. Belong.

We get it, SJHS! The mornings are getting colder, your blankets are getting cozier, and suddenly your alarm clock has become your greatest enemy. But here's the thing: the tardy bell doesn't care how comfortable your bed was! Hitting snooze 17 times, stopping for your favorite drink, or spending 20 minutes deciding what to wear might seem like perfectly reasonable excuses, but unfortunately, none of them will get you to class on time! November is the perfect time to tighten up those morning routines. Here's your challenge: Set your alarm 10 minutes earlier, put your phone across the room so you actually have to get up, pack your bag the night before, and be walking through the school doors with enough time to make it to class before 7:45 a.m. And once you're here, keep that same energy all day long! Get to every class before the bell, including after lunch. Don't be a tardy turkey — beat the bell, not your snooze button! 🦃⏰

While November might be famous for Thanksgiving leftovers and stretchy pants, it's also a month to recognize, celebrate, and support the people who make our communities special! November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and contributions of Native American people. Here at St. Johns High School, we are especially proud to recognize and celebrate our Native American students and families, whose cultures, perspectives, and traditions are an important part of our school community.

November is also National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, bringing attention to the challenges faced by young people experiencing housing instability. Homelessness doesn't always mean living on the streets; it can also mean staying temporarily with friends or relatives, living in a motel, or not having a safe, stable place to call home. These challenges can make getting to school every day especially difficult.

Need Support? We're Here to Help! ❤️🖤

If your family is experiencing housing instability, transportation challenges, or other circumstances making regular school attendance difficult, please don't hesitate to reach out. Students and families may qualify for additional assistance and resources to help them stay connected to school.

Contact: Courtney Bond
Phone: 928-337-2221 Ext 1303
Email: cobond@staff.sjusd.net

All conversations will be handled with care, respect, and sensitivity. At SJHS, we believe every student deserves to feel valued, supported, and included. After all, Be Here. Be Brilliant. Belong. isn't just a catchy slogan — it's what we want for every student, every day!

SJHS, it's time to talk numbers! Our goal for the 2026–2027 school year is to have 97.5% of our students in school every day, and we're currently sitting at 96.2%! We're not quite where we want to be, but we're still above last year's 96.3% average, and there's plenty of time to turn up the heat! Every student, every class, and every school day counts! But this quarter, we're shaking things up a little. We've celebrated our perfect attendance superstars, and now it's time to recognize students who are putting in the effort to improve! Our new quarterly reward will be a SURPRISE for students who show the greatest improvement in their tardy habits as well as for those who have no tardies! That's right, you don't need a perfect record to be recognized. If you've struggled with getting to school or class on time, this is your chance to turn things around and get rewarded for it! We won't spoil the surprise just yet, but making an effort could pay off! So put those snooze buttons on notice, keep an eye on the clock, and start showing us what you've got. Get here. Get to class. Get there ON TIME! ❤️🖤

Let's give some well-deserved recognition to our 1st Quarter Perfect Attendance Champions!

These 10 students showed up every single day, proving that consistency, commitment, and a little determination go a long way. While the rest of us were negotiating with our alarm clocks and questioning our life choices on Monday mornings, these students were getting it done!

To recognize their accomplishment, we celebrated with a Pizza & Hot Cocoa Party on October 29th in the Career Center. 🍕☕

We'd also like to give a special shout-out to the parents and guardians who help make daily attendance possible. Your support doesn't go unnoticed, and we appreciate you!

Congratulations to these students for setting the bar high. And for everyone else? The next quarter is a fresh start, and there's plenty of room on the recognition list.

🏆 Our 1st Quarter Perfect Attendance Champions 🏆

• Johnny Hammond

• Kaysen Hansen-Vaughn

• Jesse Harvey

• William Page

• Ammon Patterson

• Brigham Patterson

• Shawn Patterson

• Larissa Pulsipher

• Brisa Tryon

• Kailee Waters

10 students. 100% attendance. Recognition well deserved. ❤️🖤