Building good attendance habits doesn’t always require moving mountains. It often starts with a moment of joy. An unexpected reward or a simple celebration can help shape how a child feels about showing up to school. These positive motivators lead to larger wins, building momentum that keeps students present, engaged, and on track.
September is Attendance Awareness Month, and TIP is leaning into that joy.
Proof That Support Powers Presence
We kicked off by celebrating both winners of our annual Perfect Attendance Raffle, recognizing students who showed up on time every day for the first two weeks of school. Their stories remind us that when kids feel supported, they show up.
After working through attendance barriers with us for two years, one 9-year-old TIP client started this school year strong, taking home a raffle prize after two full weeks without a single absence or tardy.
Last year, severe bullying and mental health struggles caused our other winner, a 15-year-old girl, to miss 28 days of class. With a more supportive learning environment and mental health care in place, she achieved perfect attendance to start the year.
Bringing the Celebration to the Hallways
Over 35 years of walking alongside kids and families, one thing remains as powerful as ever: watching a child’s face light up when they are recognized for their hard work. We look forward to each one of these moments as our Attendance Awareness Month efforts continue throughout September with the “Every Presence Matters” Pop-Up Initiative.
Our staff will be making surprise visits to select schools to celebrate students who are present, participating, and making education a priority. Keep an eye out—the TIP prize cart might be rolling into a school near you!
How You Can Help
Anyone can help bring more of these moments to classrooms across Atlanta, and it only takes a few clicks! We’ve set up an Amazon Wish List stocked with goodies for our prize cart.
Every item donated reminds a student that their presence is valued, that their effort is seen, and that they belong, during Attendance Awareness Month and beyond.
Thanks for helping keep the momentum going. Our combined efforts to engage students and prevent chronic absenteeism are working!