Student attendance is a critical factor in academic achievement, yet many schools struggle with students missing class consistently. At our school, we wanted to find a positive way to encourage better attendance and highlight students who show up every day ready to learn. This project was inspired by our instructional facilitator, Ms. Bullock, who challenged us to find a creative way to celebrate students with perfect attendance while also identifying patterns in attendance across grade levels.
To address this issue, our EAST team developed a dual-purpose project: celebrate consistent attendance and analyze attendance trends using school data. Each Friday, we take photos of students who have achieved perfect attendance for the week and feature them on our hallway display. These students are recognized and celebrated among their peers, helping to promote a culture of accountability and school pride.
In addition to the recognition piece, we are also using Google Sheets and school-provided data to analyze where and when absences are most frequent. This helps our school administration better understand attendance issues and consider proactive solutions. The project fills multiple aspects of the CART:
Critical Thinking: We analyze attendance patterns and problem-solve how to improve them.
Advanced: We use digital photography and spreadsheets to collect, track, and present data.
Relevant: Attendance is a school-wide concern that directly impacts student performance.
Teamwork: We collaborate with Ms. Bullock and the administration, sharing responsibilities for data collection, photography, and outreach.
What makes this project unique is its dual focus on celebration and strategy. We’re not only honoring students but also using real-time data to identify trends and areas of concern. This gives the project both immediate impact and long-term value.
Community Partner Involvement:
Our key partner is Ms. Bullock, our school’s instructional facilitator, who initiated the idea and helps us access and understand attendance data. Our school administration also supports the project by helping to identify students and coordinate recognition. No external businesses are involved at this time.
Project Timeline:
This project began in August 2025 and will continue throughout the school year. Each week builds upon the last as we gather more data and recognize more students.
Promotion:
We have promoted this project on our school’s social media accounts and plan to continue highlighting our perfect attendance recipients.
Conclusion:
This project does more than spotlight attendance—it boosts morale, motivates students, and helps our staff target attendance challenges. It reflects what EAST is all about: using technology, collaboration, and creativity to improve our school and community.