Geneva schools plan parent presentations on student anxiety and attendance as participation rises
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Summary
Superintendent Andy Barrett and board members discussed rising student involvement in activities and an initiative of parent presentations and resources to address student anxiety and attendance, starting with a panel this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the high school auditorium.
Geneva School District 304 will offer a series of parent-facing presentations this fall aimed at helping families support students with anxiety and school attendance, Superintendent Andy Barrett told the board on Sept. 8.
Barrett said the high school administration and counseling team, led by staff including dean Susan Schroeder, will host three presentations over the next three months. The first is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium and will feature a local psychologist offering strategies for parents helping children manage anxiety.
The nut graf: district leaders linked the outreach to two concurrent trends: higher student participation in athletics and activities and ongoing concerns about student anxiety and attendance. Barrett said high-school participation rates are at their highest levels even as overall enrollment declines, and he described the parent presentations as part of a broader communications and support effort.
Board members and staff emphasized the goal of helping families identify resources and tactics to support students. Board member Stephanie Bellino and others praised Sandy Riley and the communications task force for shaping the presentation series and coordinating school-level communication changes (including changes to high-school email distribution) to reduce information overload for parents.
Why it matters: School attendance is a predictor of academic progress; staff said national trends show attendance challenges and the district wants to equip parents and caregivers with tools to help students stay engaged. The district will share presentation details and, where available, publish resources online for families.
Ending: Barrett said the district expects the presentations to be recorded and available online if possible and encouraged parents to attend; the board asked staff to continue publicizing the events and making resources accessible to families.