Springfield Public School students prepare to go back to school on Monday

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) – Springfield Public Schools start on Monday and the community came together today to prepare them for the year.

“School takes you everywhere, it is a journey that you should take” said Officer Reginald Green.

Many students in our area are going back to school at the beginning of next week, but it is important they are actually attending school and their classes.

“Everyday that a student misses is a class that they miss, is an education that they miss out on that they can apply everyday, so every time that a student is absent, they fall behind in their class and it is a little hard to match up and keep up with their peers” said Wanda Davila, an attendance specialist for zone one of the Springfield Public Schools.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently launched a campaign to improve attendance in the state. In Massachusetts, the chronic absenteeism rates have increased since the pandemic, most recently at 19.6%. For a student to be chronically absent, it means they miss 10% or more of the school year.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, a graduate of the Springfield Public Schools, makes sure to stress the importance of attendance.

“I say is all of the time to kids and their parents… show up to move up” said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.

To get kids excited to attend school, the Springfield Public Schools held an event today where kids could grab lunch, a book and most importantly a backpack with supplies to start the year.

With the youth of our area going back to school and putting the time in the classroom, it is important for our community to make sure they get to school and home safely.

“School buses are going to be out there, adhere to all of the traffic rules and regulations, stop for those school buses. I have a lot of neighborhood schools where kids walk to school so make sure they watch out for kids when they are crossing the street” said Mayor Sarno.

School buses flash two colors. When a bus is flashing yellow, it means they are about to stop. And when the bus flashes red and the stop arm extends, it is important to stop on both sides of the road.

To keep the students, bus drivers and crossing guards safe, it is important to pay attention while driving during peak hours during the beginning of the school day and the end. Making sure you are also going the speed limit or under, which is 20 mph in all school zones.

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