September is Attendance Awareness Month: Let’s Make Every Day Count!

Our site professionals from across Eastern Pennsylvania are putting their heads together to develop some of the most creative and engaging ways to get students excited about coming to school.  At the heart of this initiative is Gena Holmes, community school coordinator at Lincoln Elementary in Bethlehem, who is leading a dynamic and innovative approach to make school more engaging and welcoming.

Inspired by the positive environment created by Kraig Piper on the campus of Kutztown University; Holmes knew the first step in getting students excited about attending school is a positive school environment. 

Last year, she launched the Attendance Ambassador program, which brings local businesses and partners into the school to greet students each morning. These morning greeters offer small tokens of appreciation—stickers, erasers, and magnets—creating an uplifting start to the day and strengthening community ties. 

Building on this success, Gena expanded her attendance strategy for this school year with exciting new initiatives. She has developed a comprehensive attendance plan engaging students and parents by collaborating with the school principal and guidance counselor.

This summer, Gena created a series of positive postcards to greet students when they arrive at school and sent home magnets to parents with essential information about school arrival times, how to submit excuse notes, and contact details for absences.

A standout new initiative is the “Get Your Selfie to School” campaign. Each week, the CIS team introduces a new selfie frame that travels around classrooms, inviting students and teachers to capture and celebrate their school spirit through fun, framed selfies.

Additionally, Gena organized a memorable “Be an Attendance HERO Day,” featuring special appearances by beloved superheroes like Batman, Spiderman, and Thor, turning an ordinary school day into an extraordinary event.

Join us in celebrating Attendance Awareness Month and invest in the future of our children. Together, we can make school a place where every student feels excited to attend and engaged in their education.