THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 31, 1996 TAG: 9603300100
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEXIS M. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 137 lines
Holding classes on Saturday to make up for a February snow day provided a few, mostly pleasant, surprises at city schools last weekend.
At Fairfield Elementary, for example, Principal Sophia Stubblefield noted that more fathers than usual accompanied their children to school.
``It wasn't planned, they just showed up,'' she said. ``We have real high parent participation.''
Stubblefield was more mindful than most about the increased number of fathers who dropped off students Saturday because her school has developed programs to get more dads involved.
``We have a dad's action team that sponsors sweetheart breakfasts with their girls and other programs that involve the fathers,'' Stubblefield explained.
While attendance figures were markedly lower than usual citywide, Princess Anne and Fairfield elementaries led the way with the highest percentages - 95.2 and 95.1 percent respectively. Attendance averages about 97 percent on any given school day during the year at the two schools.
Citywide, 3,973 elementary students - about 10 percent of that population - were absent Saturday.
Among secondary schools, Landstown Middle and Princess Anne High recorded the best showings.
``We were surprised the attendance was that high,'' admitted Landstown Middle principal George E. McGovern. ``I would not have bet it was that high.''
Despite being a Saturday, it was a typical school day, he said.
Landstown Middle School had 90.3 percent of its students in classes Saturday, and Princess Anne High School had 82.8 percent.
High schools suffered the most, with about one-fourth of all students citywide in grades nine to 12 not in classes. High schools average about 95 percent attendance on any given day during the school year.
Absences reflect both those that are excused and unexcused, including illnesses and extracurricular school-related activities.
Cox High School principal Perry B. Pope said his school usually ranks among the top three in attendance but had the lowest rate Saturday among the city's 10 high schools.
Only 69.7 percent of Cox students were in classes Saturday. Pope said that major activities pre-scheduled before the snow makeup days were the major reason attendance was so low.
``We had over 200 students taking the SAT exam,'' Pope explained. The girls and boys soccer teams both had meets, the girls and boys track teams each had meets, a dance team called the ``Coquettes'' was involved in a national competition in Williamsburg, and the boys tennis team was playing in a tournament, Pope added.
``We weren't in charge of most of these events,'' he said, ``but we were committed to participating in them.''
Princess Anne High had the highest percentage of students show up for the Saturday make-up day among high schools. Most of their classes still are being held at the former Celebration Station mall while the fire-damaged school is being repaired.
``Parents realized we've missed enough school already because of the fire,'' principal Pat Griffin said. ``Students like their schedule because we have no lunch and they get out earlier.''
Virginia Beach students missed five days of school earlier this year because of snow and ice. They already have made up three days - Feb. 12 (Presidents Day), last Saturday, and Friday (originally planned as a teacher work day).
While they're enjoying spring break this week, they will have to cut that vacation shorter by one day than originally planned. They will return to school Monday, April 8, which had been part of their spring break.
They also will attend classes May 27 on Memorial Day.
Gloria Harris, principal at Princess Anne Elementary, said her staff already is planning several special events to encourage students to show up Memorial Day, including picnics and patriotic tributes.
Each month, the School Board awards an attendance flag to the elementary, middle and high schools that achieve the highest attendance percentages. Princess Anne Elementary won the flag last month for the first time, and Harris hopes to keep that trend going. MEMO: SCHOOL ATTENDANCE FIGURES
TOP ATTENDANCE
The following schools had the highest percentage of students
attending classes last Saturday:
Elementary School
Princess Anne 95.2%
Fairfield 95.1%
White Oaks 94.3%
Rosemont Forest 93.7%
Shelton Park 93.7%
Alanton 93.6%
Ocean Lakes 93.2%
Pembroke Meadows 93.0%
Middle School
Landstown 90.3%
Kemps Landing 89.9%
Brandon 89.3%
Plaza 88.6%
Salem 88.6%
High School
Princess Anne 82.8%
Green Run 78.5%
Kellam 77.6%
Salem 77.9%
Ocean Lakes 77.1%
Tallwood 77.1%
LOWEST ATTENDANCE
The following schools had the lowest percentage of students attending
classes last Saturday:
Elementary School
College Park 85.3%
Woodstock 85.3%
Newtown Road 86.1%
Linkhorn Park 86.3%
Cooke 86.7%
Seatack 86.7%
Kempsville 87.0%
Point O'View 87.7%
Middle School
Lynnhaven 83.1%
Virginia Beach 84.6%
Kempsville 85.1%
Bayside (7-8) 85.3%
High School
Cox 69.7%
First Colonial 72.4%
Bayside 72.5%
Kempsville 75.4% by CNB