Graduation event planned Feb. 5

Hundreds of eighth-graders will converge on the Flathead County Fairgrounds on Feb. 5 for the annual “I Pledge to Graduate” event.

Seven hundred eighth-graders from Flathead County schools are expected to attend the Graduation Matters event organized by Kalispell Public Schools.

Students will hear from featured speaker Kadie Latimer, Miss Montana USA 2014 and a 2009 Glacier High School graduate, discuss her challenges and triumphs in high school.

Flathead and Glacier high school principals Peter Fusaro and Callie Langohr will join forces in putting on a special show highlighting the importance of cooperation.

The event is an opportunity for students to make a commitment to graduate from high school while bringing together teachers, parents, counselors and community members in support of efforts to decrease the number of high school dropouts.

The event will run from noon to 2 p.m. and will feature a dance, sumo wrestling and 20 to 25 carnival booths hosted by high school activities and clubs, community and parent groups and event sponsors.

Starting next September, Graduation Matters-Kalispell will start a new program called “A Great Start Matters,” which will focus on promoting attendance the first month of the school year by distributing information to the community.

The first month is an indicator for attendance the rest of the year, according to a press release from Kalispell Public Schools.

Reducing chronic absenteeism is one step in reducing the number of dropouts.