As students caught word about the first annual Attendance Flex, excitement grew within the walls of Texas High. Students worked hard to ensure that their attendance met the requirements to attend the first annual Texas High Attendance Flex.
On Friday, May 16, Texas High School held its first annual Attendance Flex at the track field. Students who missed less than two days of school this past grading period earned a fun day of flag football, karaoke, and fellowship with other classmates who earned this achievement.
A great way to get students more involved is by organizing fun, regular activities that bring everyone together and make school feel more like a community.
“Mr. Wright talked to a principal in California [when Leader In Me attended a leadership symposium in California],” Texas High Principal Ben Renner said. “[This school district] greatly improved attendance by having flag football tournaments each six weeks.”
Not only does the Attendance Flex serve as a way to recognize students for showing up each day and working hard, but it also demonstrates the heart and passion that Texas High stands for.
“In Texas, we do everything bigger, so flag football is not enough,” Renner said. “We’re going to have soccer, we’re gonna have small games like corn hole, maybe a pickleball tournament. We may also possibly have video games, karaoke, and reasonably priced concessions.”
It takes a lot of emotional strength to come to school each day, so students are grateful that the school decided to recognize the work they put in on a daily basis.
“It takes a lot to come to school and actually be here,” freshman Julia Allen said. “It’s a lot of work, so it just takes a lot of mental toughness to show up.”
Overall, Texas High made the decision to implement fun into the school year in order to motivate students to work hard and show up. The Attendance Flex may be a small way to add some light into the darkness of high school, but the staff of Texas High solely believes that this small piece of joy will make a huge difference.
“Since I have been here, students have been asking me for a field day,” Renner said.“ High school has just too much going on to have a field day, but we’re gonna have this little mini field day where you can go during all lunches.”
