Lakeland Regional High School administration is striving to bring down chronic absenteeism. For the 2024-2025 school year, a new initiative for eleventh and twelfth grade students puts them in a raffle every month to receive an award. The initiative is also being brought to the staff, with an award being given for perfect monthly attendance. 

Ms. Jessica Geyer, Community Outreach Coordinator, shared, “This new initiative is very important to us, especially given how COVID changed the landscape of education for a period of time. Coming to school is the best way to ensure that students receive instruction and prepare them for future success.” Additionally, adding teachers to the mix shows appreciation to the staff for their dedication to LRHS. 

For students, the winner of the raffle receives a prime parking space in a Board of Education spot. For teachers, the winner of raffle receives a gift card. Julia Chontos, senior, and Ms. Rena Dziopa, won the raffles for September, while Michael Jakubaszek, senior, and Mr. Thomas McCormack won for October.

Attendance is very important to the staff and students at LRHS. Mr. Hugh Beattie, Chief School Administrator, sent a letter out to the community sharing, stating that attendance is important because it is linked to academic achievement: When you miss school you aren’t able to “engage with the curriculum, participate in discussions during class, or even build a strong foundation for knowledge.”

If a student misses too many days of school they will lose credit and have to retake the course or attend summer school. The maximum amount of absences allowed before losing credit is four days in a semester class, eight days in an A/B day class, and 16 days for a full year class.