CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
INEZ — January arrives at Inez Elementary School with a full calendar, a renewed academic push and a clear message: Show up, stay engaged and keep moving forward.
IES reports in its January newsletter that students returned to class Jan. 5 after the New Year break, with the second nine-week grading period entering its final stretch. The term wraps up Jan. 9 and report cards will go home Jan. 16.
School will close Jan. 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the month will close Jan. 30 with an Indian Rally.
School leaders used the January newsletter to put a spotlight on attendance, calling it one of the most powerful predictors of student success. Missing just two days a month adds up quickly — 20 days over a school year — costing students dozens of hours of instruction in reading, writing and math.
The message from Principal Amanda Fields to families was simple: Being present every day counts.
The school is already tracking academic growth. Staff reports that the winter iReady diagnostic is complete and students showed measurable progress in both reading and math.
Those hitting lesson goals are receiving rewards in their classrooms.
Administrators say they are adjusting instruction to meet individual needs as the second semester begins. By midyear, students should have passed at least 40 lessons in each subject.
Beyond academics, the school continues to emphasize student well-being and character development. Counselor Susan Whitt says classroom conversations focus on coping skills, positive relationships and good character. She encourages families to reach out whenever they need additional support.
Support continues after the dismissal bell as well. Tribe Time, the school’s after-school program, runs from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays at the Community Center and Tuesday through Thursday at Inez Elementary. The program provides snacks, homework help, tutoring, enrichment activities, dinner and transportation. It is a safety net that supports students and keeps them learning beyond the school day.