Teh One Who Knocks
05-16-2011, 05:01 PM
By ANDREW POTTER - Staff Writer Times-Republican
Nearly 250 chronically tardy students at Marshalltown High School will soon receive wake-up calls at their home in an effort to get them out of bed and to school.
Students who have been tardy five or more times since March will be receiving the calls on school days between 6:30 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. from the district's automated calling system.
While originally slated to begin Monday, the program has been delayed, and will start sometime in the near future, according to Jason Staker, communications director for the Marshalltown School District.
"If we can get them out of bed and into school then it will work," said Lisa Wunn, dean of students at MHS.
Wunn said the idea came from a counselor at the school in a discussion about all the tardy students at MHS. She has not heard of any school district using this method.
Wunn said tardy students often give the excuse that they don't have an alarm, and she's hoping these calls will help solve that problem.
The morning message will start out by saying: "Good morning from Marshalltown High School. It's time to get up and enjoy the day." The message goes on to remind students when the first class period starts that day.
With the end of the school year nearing, Wunn said this will be a pilot program to see if the district will continue it next fall.
Parents can sign up to get their student off the list or on the list.
Nearly 250 chronically tardy students at Marshalltown High School will soon receive wake-up calls at their home in an effort to get them out of bed and to school.
Students who have been tardy five or more times since March will be receiving the calls on school days between 6:30 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. from the district's automated calling system.
While originally slated to begin Monday, the program has been delayed, and will start sometime in the near future, according to Jason Staker, communications director for the Marshalltown School District.
"If we can get them out of bed and into school then it will work," said Lisa Wunn, dean of students at MHS.
Wunn said the idea came from a counselor at the school in a discussion about all the tardy students at MHS. She has not heard of any school district using this method.
Wunn said tardy students often give the excuse that they don't have an alarm, and she's hoping these calls will help solve that problem.
The morning message will start out by saying: "Good morning from Marshalltown High School. It's time to get up and enjoy the day." The message goes on to remind students when the first class period starts that day.
With the end of the school year nearing, Wunn said this will be a pilot program to see if the district will continue it next fall.
Parents can sign up to get their student off the list or on the list.