Springfield Public Schools launch attendance effort

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Springfield Public Schools are launching a campaign on Monday to encourage students to attend school.

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"Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow" aims to build stronger attendance habits and provide families with the tools they need to prioritize school attendance. The campaign will feature a special raffle for parents and guardians whose students achieve perfect attendance.

"We know that showing up every day is one of the most powerful indicators of student success," said Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall. "Our 'Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow' campaign is about rallying together as a community—families, educators, and partners—because when students are present, their potential knows no bounds."

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, "As I have always stated – 'show-up to move-up'. We've seen a more than 30 percent graduation rate improvement and a huge decrease in our dropout rate since I took office. This is a testament to all our partners from administration to teachers, staff, students, families, and our business community. We know that school attendance is a key factor in success down the road and want to make sure all our student's families understand how crucial it is to build these habits. The importance of regular attendance cannot be overstated and we are proud to come together to continue to build strong attendance habits and put our students on the path of success with the "Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow" campaign."

The prize includes an overnight stay at MGM Springfield and a $250 gift card.

"MGM Springfield is incredibly proud to support the Springfield Public Schools 'Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow' campaign. We know that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and consistent attendance is proven to be a key part of that success by laying the foundation for academic achievement and personal growth," said Jennifer McGrath, MGM Springfield Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement. "Investing in the future of our students, our schools and our community is a critical part of what we do at MGM Springfield. This partnership shines a light on making sure that together, we provide a brighter future for all students, helping them stay engaged, motivated, and excited to learn."

There will be a news conference at 2:00 p.m. at Springfield City Hall to officially announce the start of the campaign.

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