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West Sacramento Sun

Positive Attendance Creates Superheroes

Oct 08, 2024 04:50PM ● By Angela Underwood

Washington Unified School District teachers dress up as superheroes to support the regular attendance on Oct. 2, Attendance Superhero Day. Photo courtesy of Washington Unified School District


WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Superheroes show up at the perfect time.

Washington Unified School District (WUSD) students also show up right when it matters, which is every day.

“Equating superheroes with attendance is a creative way to inspire students and highlight the power of consistent school presence,” Giorgio Kazanis, communications director, said about Attendance Superhero Day on Oct. 2. “Just as superheroes show up to save the day, students who regularly attend school are setting themselves up for success.”

Washington Unified School District is not the only district celebrating showing up. The Attendance Awareness Campaign 2024 uses the month to focus on how each calendar school day offers learning, relationship building and access to needed support systems.


Washington Unified School District fifth-grader Zora Thornton, also from Southport Elementary School, never missed one day of school in a year. Photo courtesy of Washington Unified School District


The campaign keeps the focus on attendance past October, along with dozens of national partners, including Scholastic, the National League of Cities and the Kids in Need Foundation.

Ongoing seminars and workshops focus on the “concrete steps toward reducing chronic absence,” according to the campaign website. Kazanis said that “strong, regular attendance helps students build academic skills, establish social connections and gain a sense of normalcy.”

“It's essential for closing learning gaps and ensuring students stay on track for future success,” according to the communication director, who said that post-COVID, consistent school attendance has become more crucial than ever.

“The pandemic disrupted learning routines and social interactions, leading to a significant increase in chronic absenteeism,” Kazanis said.


Washington Unified School District encourages students all year long to attend school with the “Be Here! Don’t Skip Out on Success” campaign that includes Attendance Superhero Day. Photo courtesy of Washington Unified School District


In the 2021-2022 school year, Washington Unified School District saw an all-time high of 30.83% chronic absenteeism rate.

“That made it clear that something needed to be done,” Kazanis said.

That’s when the “Be Here! Don’t Skip Out on Success” campaign started, which uses positive reinforcement messaging to encourage the student population and broader community. Kazanis said academically, consistent attendance allows students to fully engage with the curriculum, participate in class discussions and complete hands-on activities that reinforce learning.

“Emotionally and socially, regular attendance helps students develop crucial interpersonal skills, build friendships and feel connected to their school community,” Kazanis said. “This sense of belonging contributes to improved mental health and overall well-being.”

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports educational agencies must continually update attendance data for comparison among other organizations and jurisdictions.

The government agency cites research to point out “while teacher effectiveness is the strongest school-related determinant of student success, chronic student absence reduces even the best teacher's ability to provide learning opportunities.”


Washington Unified School District fifth-grader Noura Hajali from Southport Elementary School has perfect attendance for a full year. Photo courtesy of Washington Unified School District


Like any other bad habit, absenteeism eventually causes chaos down the road, with the National Center for Education Statistics reporting “poor attendance has serious implications for later outcomes as well,” specifically for high school dropouts. Studies found that high school dropouts “missed significantly more days of school in first- grade” than their peers.  

That is all the more reason that Washington Unified School District wants to remind students being present is one of their greatest superpowers. 

“By participating in Attendance Superhero Day and another attendance-related activities, students can embrace the idea that their daily presence in school is not just routine,” Kazanis said. “It’s a powerful choice that significantly impacts their academic journey.”