Happy New Year! We hope your break brought rest and joy. As we dive into 2026, we return not just with fresh energy—but with big momentum to celebrate. One of the clearest signs that our Strategic Plan is working—particularly our focus on Academic and Personal Success for Every Student—is found in a simple but powerful metric: student attendance.

Showing up matters. And across Summit School District, students are doing just that.

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow: District-Wide Growth
 

Over the past two years, Summit has seen a 16.7% drop in chronic absenteeism, with dozens more students consistently attending school. That’s more time spent learning, connecting, and building confidence. Even more exciting? These gains are translating into stronger academic performance and brighter outlooks for our students.
 

One high school student who was once chronically absent is now planning for college. That type transformation is why we do this work—and it’s happening all across our schools.
 

Spotlight on School-Led Success

Across the district, schools are making attendance a source of pride and community spirit.

Summit Middle School has turned attendance into friendly competitions, grade-level shout-outs, and a school-wide culture of encouragement, they’ve helped reduce chronic absenteeism by 48 students in one year. It’s become part of their identity—and it’s working.

Summit High School leads the way with a dramatic 24 percentage point drop in chronic absenteeism, while Silverthorne Elementary and Breckenridge Elementary have each helped dozens of students improve their attendance.

These wins are possible thanks to the collective efforts of families, educators, and support teams. We want to give a special shout-out to:

• Assistant Principal, Dave DeRose Ed.D. (SHS)
• Assistant Principal, Erin Dillon (SMS)
• Principal, Ann-Mari Westerhoff (Breckenridge Elementary)

Your dedication and care are making a real impact. You’re not just tracking attendance—you’re helping students believe they belong and can succeed.
 

Why Attendance Still Matters—Especially Now

With winter weather (finally!) in full swing, it's a good time to revisit why consistent attendance matters:

• Students who attend regularly are more likely to stay on track academically
• Regular attendance supports emotional well-being and belonging
• Habits formed now carry through to high school graduation and beyond

Schools across SSD are creating proactive systems—like daily check-ins, attendance recognition, and family outreach—to help students stay on track.
 

Tips for Families: Keep Up the Momentum This Winter

As we navigate the snowy months ahead, here are a few simple ways to keep attendance strong:

• Plan ahead for morning commutes: Leave extra time for morning commutes on icy roads.
• Keep routines consistent: Regular bedtimes and morning habits support on-time arrival.
• Wash hands often: Help prevent flu and seasonal illness from spreading.
• Stay connected with your school: Let staff know if your child is struggling—there’s support available.

Every day matters—even a few missed days a month can add up. Let's keep students healthy, safe, and showing up ready to learn.

This work is about more than just data. It’s about every student feeling seen, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. Thank you to our teachers, counselors, secretaries, principals, family liaisons, guardians and students who make that happen each day.

Together, we are moving the needle. And as we step into the second half of the school year, we do so with clarity and purpose: Academic and Personal Success for Every Student—starting with showing up.