Drawing Attention To The Importance Of School Attendance

Calaveras County, CA — A record number of Calaveras County elementary students participated in a school attendance poster contest with a top prize of $150.

For eight years, the creativity of students participating in the Calaveras County Attendance Awareness Poster Contest has emphasized the importance of attending school. The contest began in 2016 as a collaborative effort of the Calaveras County Office of Education, the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB), the Calaveras County Sheriff, and the Calaveras County District Attorney.

According to organizers, the 333 entries from elementary schools across the county this year set a new record. Taking first place and the $150 was Clarissa Killip, a 5th grader at Mokelumne Hill Elementary. Additionally, her poster will be printed and distributed countywide to promote attendance awareness. Reflecting on her inspiration, she shared, “Attendance is important for getting good grades and a way to see my good friends at school.”

The second-place winner is Hayden Mason, a 6th grader at Sierra Hills Education Center. She received $100. The 3rd place winner, Marilyn Woods, a 6th grader at West Point Elementary, was awarded $50 and an honorable mention was given to Asher Taylor in kindergarten at Hazel Fischer Elementary.

New in this year’s competition was the addition of transitional kindergarten (TK) through 6th-grade students.