Surprise Pop-Up Attendance Day at Kelley School Was Delightful! 🦊

Kelley School students who arrived at school on time September 29 were met with cheering squads of staff holding upbeat welcoming signs and noisemakers.

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Students were then handed lollypops and colorful bracelets with the words “Awesome Attendance” written on them.

The reason?

It’s one of the ways the New York State Department of Education is addressing high rates of chronic absenteeism throughout the state by encouraging school districts to employ positive incentive strategies like the Pop-Up Attendance Day at Kelley rather than disciplinary measures to persuade children to refrain from excessive absences, arrive at school on time and stay until the end of the day.

Studies are showing school attendance is best in schools that strengthen each student's sense of belonging, purpose, and connection to their school community.

Kelley School was the first of the five Newark Central School District Schools this school year to hold such an upbeat beginning of the day and plans are underway for three more such creative events this year at the grades 3-5 school.

And it was clear from the surprised and happy faces of students as they poured into the front and rear entrances at Kelley School that the celebratory early morning beginning of their school day was a big hit.

“It was awesome _ super fun,” Principal Christina Sullivan said afterward.

Sullivan said messages about the importance of children arriving at school when it opens at 8:50 a.m. and remaining through the entire day until dismissal at 3:30 p.m. have also been included in KS newsletters to parents since the opening of school September 8th.