The Pelican NEST program, a new St. Paul’s attendance policy introduced at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, has been a hot topic among many students. The purpose of NEST is explained by its acronym: Necessary Engagement, Self-Reflection, and Transformation. Before school leaders implemented NEST, students’ consequences for their first three unexcused absences per term was checking in thirty minutes before their regular checkin time. This new policy requires students who have accrued three unexcused absences to attend one Thursday morning NEST session in the Friedman Community Center before attending Chapel.
The purpose of this program, according to the Dean of Students Office, is to support students who have accumulated three unexcused absences and are at risk of going On Restrictions. When a student has four unexcused absences, they are placed On Restrictions, which means they lose a number of privileges for a period of time. Page 60 of the Student Handbook offers more information on the specific privileges that can be lost. Associate Dean of Students Kyle Losardo describes the program as an “intermediate step between early check and being On Restrictions. NEST is not a week’s worth of consequence, so it allows students to still be active members of the community, while providing them the opportunity to reflect on the potential impact of future unexcused absences.”
Even though NEST may not be as severe a consequence as being placed On Restrictions, attendance is mandatory and students must treat it with the same seriousness as a commitment. Being tardy or absent from NEST counts as another absence.
Students must turn in their phones and headphones upon arrival and sign an attendance sheet before they take a seat. From 8 a.m. when the session starts to 8:45 a.m. when students are dismissed to Chapel, they are expected to make productive use of their time. “Phones and headphones are confiscated because doing so minimizes distractions and helps students positively engage in self reflection so that they can transform the habits that have led them to be placed in NEST,” explains Losardo. “Students can use this time to do work, mindful meditation, or reflect on how to better manage their free time.”
Though there is not yet sufficient data to demonstrate quantitatively if NEST has been effective in deterring absences, Associate Dean of Students Thomas Gregston believes that the program has at least been more effective than early check in instilling a sense of responsibility. “Students think that the first three absences are theirs to take whenever they want,” he says, “but NEST serves as a good reminder that attendance is something we take very seriously.”
The Dean of Students office welcomes feedback about NEST from the student body. “We are always eager to hear from students what can be done to help them make their commitments,” says Gregston.