REBECCA’S STORY

“Kids can’t learn if they’re not in school, but with a little effort, we can get them excited to be here.”

Beechwood Elementary had a problem with attendance. The school’s social worker, Rebecca Lipski, took matters into her own hands to encourage kids to show up.

“When kids aren’t here, they’re not learning. As they get older, they miss more and more, and the gaps in their education keep growing,” Rebecca explained. “We’re trying to curb this at an elementary level.”

Rebecca received her first grant from United Way of Southwestern PA’s Be There initiative for the 2016-2017 school year to focus on programming and activities to increase attendance. She piloted various tactics and activities, but found one thing in particular that really excited her students.

She started creating monthly calendars with areas for kids to color in for every school day they are in attendance. For the 2017-2018 school year, the calendar activity is yielding results.

“If their sheet is filled at the end of the month, they get to participate in that month’s reward. Sometimes it’s a movie, sometimes it’s an outdoor activity or a snack— it’s something different every month,” Rebecca said.

At the end of 2017, perfect attendance by month was up by 10% from the previous school year.

“The grant from United Way’s Be There program has helped us get our kids excited about school. We’ve noticed some kids who used to miss a lot of school are making sure to be here, so they can fill in their calendar,” Rebecca said.

Rebecca encourages other schools to work with United Way to promote positive attendance among their students.

“When kids are missing school, they are missing so much more than academics. They are missing a social connection and getting to know their peers. All schools are different, but there is a solution for your school that will get your kids excited, and United Way can help you get there,” Rebecca said.