Mapleshade rewards students with perfect attendance

June 30, 2016 | Chris Goudreau
cgoudreau@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW – Sixteen students at Mapleshade Elementary School received brand new bicycles and helmets on their last day of school for perfect attendance during the 2015-2016 school year thanks to donations from local companies.

Mapleshade Principal Michael Fredette told Reminder Publications last year Horace Mann Insurance agent Brett Ralph donated bicycles to four students who received perfect attendance.

“We put it out in the first newsletter that with perfect perfect attendance, you’ll get a bicycle and look at the results,” Fredette said. “We have 16 kids. So I called Brett and he was a little worried … so he partnered with United Bank to help with the funding and it all worked out really well.”

He said he believes “school attendance make a difference” in student learning and experiences at school.

Ralph said about a month ago he heard about the 16 students with perfect attendance and said he aimed to “get it done.”

He added, “Attendance is a big thing, so we’re supporting educators and what they do and their jobs. When children aren’t there, it’s hard to do their jobs. This is really cool to quadruple the perfect attendance that they had last year. It couldn’t be a cooler project.”

Steven Danishevsky of United Bank echoed Ralph’s thoughts, adding, “I’m just happy on behalf of United Bank to be able to support and participate in this great program.”

Superintendent of Schools Gordon Smith said he’s excited the district has partnered with Horace Mann and United Bank to do “something special” for students.

“We know that that’s most of the battle – you need to be there in order to achieve,” he noted. “And we know without the support of families, everyone at school, and community partners, these things don’t happen easily and aren’t recognized often enough.”

Fredette said nine additional students had near perfect attendance and all 25 students, those with perfect and near perfect attendance, were invited to a pizza party as well.

A list of 13 students with perfect attendance includes Ellie Hutchins, Raquel Pilat, Chi Tu, Rachael Pilat, Gage Abdelmaseh, Edward Saillant, Madelyn Moriarty, Vivian Poole, Dominic Burack, Austin Barney, Amethyst Barney, John Parker, and Molly Reilly.

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