The Curtner Elementary School community soared into the October 8 school board meeting, with an intense sense of pride in what they've accomplished and what they hope to accomplish this school year.
Led by Principal Maria Hartman-Hernandez, they first showcased the new methods they've been using to tackle Absenteeism this year, including the Curtner Community Carpool, Curtner Convocation, an Attendance Mentor on site and an incentive program.
The proof was in the pudding as Curtner is at a 98.5 percent attendance rate so far for the 2019-20 school year.
Curtner staff did not come alone, as at least a dozen students joined them and were active participants, starting with a trio leading the board room in a flag salute. Along with staff, the students then guided the Board Members and Executive Cabinet in a lock-box, escape-room style challenge. Students gave hints as Board Members and Administrators attempted to solve clues to determine the code and unlock the box.
Finally, Principal Hartman-Hernandez introduced the school-wide push to change Curtner's mascot from the Stallions to the Bald Eagles. She presented the Board with a Curtner Mascot Change Proposal, which included a timeline of when and how she engaged staff, students and families during the process. One telling statistic was that 76 percent of 829 total polled preferred the Bald Eagles as the Curtner mascot.
To view more photos from the Curtner visit to the Oct. 8 meeting, click
here.
