NEW! NOLA-PS Attendance Month Contest: A Chance for Schools to Win Big!

(New Orleans – September 13, 2023) — NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is delighted to introduce the Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! Attendance Month Contest in observance of September being Attendance Awareness Month. Our thrilling competition aims to foster and reward exceptional attendance among our scholars, classrooms, and schools. This contest is open to all schools under the NOLA-PS umbrella and offers enticing prizes for those who demonstrate outstanding attendance during the competition period.

Additionally, NOLA-PS is actively seeking in-kind prize donations from businesses and community members to further enhance the allure of this competition and provide even more amazing prizes for participants. If you would like to donate a prize, please contact Julieanne Lund, Director of Community & Governmental Affairs for NOLA-PS, via email: jlund@nolapublicschools.com.

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! stands as NOLA Public Schools' Annual Attendance Campaign. This initiative is purposefully crafted to inspire scholars and their families to aspire to achieve five or fewer absences throughout the upcoming school year. The campaign commences today, accompanied by the rallying hashtag: #striveforlessorfive. It will actively engage scholars, their families, and the wider public through creative messaging, social media platforms, and community involvement—all geared towards ensuring that scholars are present, punctual, and engaged in their education every day.

This campaign was a pivotal component of Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams' 100-Day Plan to combat chronic absenteeism last year, and its legacy carries into the 2023-2024 school year. Ultimately, the Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! campaign is a dedicated effort to cultivate consistent school attendance among students within NOLA Public Schools.

Contest Key Details:

- Competition Period: September 13th - October 13th

- Eligibility: All schools within NOLA-PS

Participation:

To enter the contest, schools must sign up by the end of the day on Wednesday, September 13th. We're encouraging our schools to sign-up, and don't miss this chance to showcase your campuses' commitment to attendance and win exciting prizes!

Contest Prizes:

Scholars and classrooms with an outstanding attendance rate of 92% or higher during the eligible days will be automatically entered to win the following exciting prizes and many more:

• A Year of Dat Dog – for the student winner with the least absences
• Gourmet Ice Cream Party by Lucy Boone Ice Cream – for the classroom with the least absences
• Special Exciting Prize(s) – will be given to the overall school campus with the least absences

NOLA-PS will recognize and reward those who prioritize attendance and punctuality.

Toolkit for Schools:

To help participating schools promote the contest and encourage attendance, NOLA-PS is providing a comprehensive toolkit. This toolkit will include social media posts and flyers that can be used to spread the word to scholars and the community, making it easier for schools to engage and inspire participation.

School Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams expressed her excitement for the contest, saying, "We believe that regular attendance is crucial for the success of our scholars, and this contest is a fun way to reinforce the importance of being present in school. We are eager to see schools across the district embrace this opportunity and compete for the fantastic prizes we have in store."

For more information and to sign up for the Attendance Month Contest, please contact:

Julieanne Lund

Director of Community & Governmental Affairs

Email: jlund@nolapublicschools.com

NOLA-PS encourages all schools to participate and make Attendance Month a memorable and rewarding experience for scholars and educators alike. Let's strive for perfect attendance and a brighter future together!

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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 67 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams, the first woman in the District's 181 years to serve as its permanent superintendent.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps, and X @NOLAPSchools.