Local

Local elementary school hosts parade to encourage students during pandemic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Teachers and staff at Renaissance West Steam Academy hit the streets for a parade Wednesday to offer encouragement to students during the pandemic.

Fifth grader Jacobi Gooden told Channel 9 she was happy to see them because virtual learning has been tough.

“It was good, but it wasn’t all the way good, because I wanted to be in person to see everyone,” she said.

Gooden says her mom and her ambitions drive her to keep going to class everyday.

“If you don’t go to class you might not be able to learn as much and You won’t be able to go to college,” she said.

An alarming number of Gooden’s peers have stopped attending class.

“We’re sitting just about 83% to 84% attendance,” Principal Stacey Clark.

Clark said they put on the parade was to reach out to the students who aren’t showing up for class and to let them know that their teachers still care.

“I think that’s one goal we have for the parade. To let them know we’re still here. We’re still here for you,” Clark said.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School district said absenteeism during the pandemic has been a problem district wide. Often the reasons are related to the pandemic.

Officials said right now school teams are making calls and conducting home visits to make sure those kids don’t fall through the cracks.