This fall, Judge Lee Satterfield, former head of Family Court, presided over the first-ever truancy program for middle school students in Washington, DC  This Tuesday, the first 10 students to complete the program will participate in a graduation ceremony at Garnet-Patterson Middle School.  Next semester the program will expand to another DC middle school. 
 
WHAT: Family Court Truancy Diversion Program Graduation 
 
WHERE: Garnet-Patterson Middle School   2001 10th Street, NW 
 
WHEN: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 – 8-9:30am 
 
WHO:  Judge Lee F. Satterfield; Deputy Mayor Brenda Donald Walker; Assistant Superintendent Dianne Powell 
 
The program is an effort to help students and their parents confront the underlying issues that cause repeated unexcused absences.  It included weekly sessions for parents and teens with the judge, as well as meetings with social workers from a neighborhood collaborative to help the families address the causes of the unexcused school absences.  
 
MEDIA NOTE:  All media are welcome to attend the graduation ceremony on Tuesday morning at 8am. No visual or audio recording devices may be used during the ceremony; nor may any names be used without permission from the parent.  Judge Satterfield, Deputy Mayor Walker, Assistant Superintendent Powell and at least one participating parent and child will be available for interviews immediately after the ceremony.  Other students may be interviewed, provided that a parent has given consent.