By Deb Kubin, Superintendent
As we open the 2025-26 school year, I’m thinking about firsts. The first bell, the first high-five, the first “you’ve got this” whispered before a quiz. These small rituals are how a school year finds its rhythm. They’re also how we live our Strategic Plan. From great instruction to creating a sense of belonging, our priorities all come down to the same promise: every student is seen, challenged, and supported, every day.
This year, we’re leaning in even more on the idea of belonging. Inspired by the playbook Belonging in School by Douglas Fisher and colleagues, our schools are working intentionally to help each child feel that they fit, that they are valued, and that they matter. Belonging doesn’t mean just one thing. It’s made up of many small but powerful experiences: things like a positive welcome at the door, being listened to when they share an idea, and being included when teams are formed or projects assigned.
With this in mind, we’re working on more opportunities for students to feel known and involved: student voice in classroom decisions, safe chances to try something new, and extra-curriculars that don’t require prior experience to join. If your child hasn’t found “their thing” yet, encourage them to sample a club, a sport, a performance, or a service project. The goal isn’t to fill calendars; it’s to fill cups – to connect students with peers and caring adults who will cheer them on. And, as their biggest cheerleaders, parents can help their children by reminding them that any early feelings of awkwardness or doubt are part of adjusting to something new. Reassure them that with each day they attend, it gets a little easier, a little more familiar, and a lot more comfortable. When students feel that sense of belonging, they don’t just attend school, they engage in school.
And that’s where belonging and attendance meet. Last year, thanks to your partnership, our district reached a 93 percent average attendance rate. That represents thousands of backpacks zipped, homework checked, and car rides coordinated – even on rainy mornings when it would have been easier to stay home. Thank you. This year, we’re aiming for 95 percent. Why 95? Because students who attend at least 95 percent of the time adapt better socially, build routines that reduce anxiety, and keep pace academically. We only have 180 instructional days, missing more than nine of them (about one every three weeks) adds up fast. Every day in class is a day of progress, practice, and connection.
Reaching 95 percent districtwide is doable if we each do our part. We know it isn’t always easy. Illness, transportation, and family challenges can get in the way. A few friendly reminders that help: set bedtimes and morning routines now while the year is young; schedule appointments after school when possible; and reach out to your school if health, transportation, or housing challenges are getting in the way. We have resources and people ready to help. When in doubt, call – partnership is one of our core priorities for a reason. Together we can keep students in class, where they have the best chance to thrive.
Ultimately, the overlap in our focus is intentional. We want our students to succeed, and we know success grows when they feel they belong. Attendance fuels that sense of belonging, and belonging reinforces the desire to attend. That cycle is how children come to realize that their education is for them, not just a requirement, but a gift and a tool for building the lives they imagine as they grow.
So here’s to firsts: first day photos, first lab reports, first notes home that say “I’m proud of you.” Here’s to the timeless wisdom that showing up on time, prepared, and ready to try is half the job – and to the modern science that proves it. It’s important that we all pull in the same direction, listening, encouraging, and supporting. On their epic journey, every day matters. Let’s make this our most connected, most consistent, and most belonging-filled year yet, aiming for 95 percent and cheering for 100 percent of our students!
Hence then, the article about ukiah unified school desk building on belonging was published today ( ) and is available on Ukiah Daily Journal ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Ukiah Unified School Desk: Building on belonging )
Also on site :
- Saudi Arabia to unify LPG gas cylinder prices nationwide from January 2026
- Two dozen killed in Ukrainian strike on Russian New Year’s celebration – governor
- Volunteer in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reportedly killed during widening protests