The 23 students, who achieved the best attendance during the first semester at Duncombe Elementary, chose to spend their reward learning the art of pizza making with Chef Nick Sells from Taher Inc., the school district’s food service provider.

“I like spreading the sauce and putting the cheese on top,” said third grade student Liam Cobb.

“I got to learn something new,” said Charlotte Gates.

The pizza party reward is part of an ongoing initiative from staff and administration at Duncombe Elementary who are encouraging leadership skills in students while also increasing attendance rates.

-Submitted photo
Liam Cobb uses a docker to remove air from the pizza dough at Thursday’s Duncombe pizza party.

Staff have successfully accomplished this by giving students the opportunity to be attendance monitors who visit each classroom daily to document every classes’ attendance. At the end of the week, those monitors total and average each classroom’s daily attendance. The classroom that meets the goal of 95 percent or better attendance for each week is recognized building wide. Classrooms that meet the attendance goal for the month get their picture on the school’s attendance bulletin board. Classrooms with 95 percent or better attendance for the quarter and semester earn special rewards, like Thursday’s pizza party.

“I like having a responsibility at school and being a part of the attendance tracking,” said Attendance Monitor Anthony Vazquez.

“I enjoy interacting with the students and teaching them skills they can have for life,” added Sells.

According to Duncombe Elementary School Principal Ryan Flaherty, with this initiative monthly attendance numbers have increased every month this school year.

“The magic in the leadership role of attendance monitors is that it is a win-win proposition tor the students that are coming to school more to be recognized and for the students in the leadership role who are practicing their math skills, their communication skills and are starting to see the “big picture” of why being at school every day is so important,” said Flaherty. ” With 447 students at Duncombe Elementary, they are by far the biggest asset we can tap into. Diane Arndt, the staff facilitator of attendance monitors, is the key to its success and why students love this leadership role. Her attention to detail, her consistency in meeting with students and helping them understand their role and her ability to help every student see their leadership potential have transformed leadership and attendance at Duncombe Elementary.”

-Submitted photo
Duncombe Elementary third grade student Charlotte Gates puts sauce on her pizza crust at Thursday’s pizza party.

Denise Kahler’s class won the reward for the first quarter and voted to have a snack and game party.

Alexis Konz’s class of 17 students had the best attendance for the semester and voted for the special Kids in the Kitchen event with Sells. Six attendance monitors participated as well.

“Student attendance is such an important skill to build at the elementary level,” said Flaherty. “We know that the way to build healthy attendance habits is by recognizing and celebrating our students who are doing it best.”

Individual students at Duncombe Elementary who attended school every day of the first semester without any tardies or leaving early will also soon be recognized with a pizza party with Superintendent Josh Porter.

“Classrooms are where the magic happens in schools,” said Flaherty. “The first key to school success is having students in the classroom, in front of caring and skilled teachers with a solid curriculum. We are so proud of our students who are making that effort to be here every single day and encouraging their classmates to be there as well. Chef Nick and his staff do a wonderful job of creating a positive experience with Kids in the Kitchen, it was just the perfect match for our kids who have perfect attendance.”

-Submitted photo
Attendance Monitor Anthony Vazquez rolls out pizza dough at the Duncombe Elementary pizza party on Thursday.