Attendance wins! Memorial Elementary’s March Madness makes every day a game changer

Mrs. Humphreys’ first place-winning homeroom. With everyone in attendance for the team photo, students were joined by Mrs. Humphrey (left) and Chace Petro and Principal Cara Dunn (right).

Memorial Elementary School in the Bloomsburg Area School District recently demonstrated an innovative approach to fostering a culture of consistent attendance and academic engagement through a schoolwide “March Madness” Attendance Competition. Inspired by the excitement of the NCAA basketball tournament, the initiative successfully leveraged a bracket-style format to encourage classroom participation and highlight the crucial link between being present and student success.

Throughout March, classes at Memorial Elementary engaged in a spirited competition to achieve the highest weekly attendance rates. Each day, classroom attendance determined advancement in the bracket, creating a dynamic and team-oriented atmosphere. Students actively rallied their peers to attend school, understanding that their individual presence contributed to their class’s progress in the tournament. The anticipation of the weekly bracket updates, prominently displayed throughout the school, generated enthusiastic conversations and reinforced the importance of daily attendance.

The results of the March Madness Attendance Competition were significant. The school recorded its lowest absentee day of the academic year during the initiative, providing clear evidence of its positive impact on student presence.

The creative initiative was spearheaded by Principal Cara Dunn and Attendance Officer and School Resource Officer Chase Petro, who sought to develop an engaging and rewarding method to underscore the vital connection between consistent attendance and academic achievement.

The culmination of the tournament celebrated the outstanding attendance efforts of three winning classes:
1st Place: Mrs. Humphreys’ 1st Grade Class – awarded an ice cream sundae party
2nd Place: Ms. Cooper’s 5th Grade Class – awarded a pizza party
3rd Place: Mrs. Serrano’s 1st Grade Class – awarded extra recess

Reflecting on the success of the March Madness competition, Principal Cara Dunn stated, “We were thrilled to witness the enthusiasm and teamwork this initiative sparked among our students. It was a fun and engaging way to emphasize the importance of being in school every day and how it contributes to both individual and collective success.”