To start the 2025-26 school year, Lincoln staff have been employing several different initiatives — like Sunshine Days and a Family BINGO Night — to boost student and family engagement while reinforcing the importance of being present and on time.

“Our staff is always coming up with incredible ideas to encourage our Lincoln Scholars to be their best every single day,” said Katie Russo, Principal. “An important element of that is being at school on time and ready to learn. Both our Sunshine Days and Family BINGO Night have been fun and meaningful ways to encourage the importance of daily attendance.”

When fourth-grade teacher Kaleisha Velazquez and the school’s PBIS team began brainstorming ways to celebrate student attendance, they wanted something that felt uniquely Lincoln.

“The idea for Sunshine Days really began with the district’s vision to celebrate students and their commitment to attendance,” Velazquez said. “So, we came up with a celebration that not only recognizes students for showing up, but makes them feel seen, valued, and really excited.”

Lincoln Elementary School families gathered recently for a “Family BINGO” night to help drive family engagement.

Sunshine Days are randomly selected bright, cheerful mornings filled with pom-poms, cheers, and a sea of yellow shirts as students enter the building. Each event recognizes students for their attendance and punctuality. They are not previously announced and a complete surprise to Lincoln students.

Velazquez said that while attendance is an expectation, it’s important to acknowledge the real effort it takes for families to make it happen.

“Sometimes coming to school and being on time can get overlooked because it’s an expectation,” she said. “But for many of our students and families, it’s more than that, it’s an accomplishment that deserves recognition. Sunshine Days have become our way to shine a light on those efforts, to start the day with joy, and to bring our school community together around something positive and connecting with our Lincoln community.”

That same spirit of celebration also applies to the second-annual Family BINGO Night, produced by Lincoln’s Family & Community Engagement team. But according to kindergarten teacher Melissa Forster, anticipation was the driving force behind the excitement for this event.

“Sometimes school events really are only limited to one night,” said Melissa Forster, a kindergarten teacher at Lincoln. “The goal was for excitement to build — having baskets on display and students seeing what they can win in the front hall, and then having a spirit week leading up to the event.”

Students had the opportunity to earn three “BINGO Bucks” each day — one for being present, one for being on time, and one if the entire class had perfect attendance. Students also earned one BINGO Buck if they came to the event, though families unable to attend were not excluded from prizes.

“Students were really excited to get a chance to place their BINGO Bucks in the box of their choice,” said Forster. “The third BINGO Buck of having everyone here really reinforces that we are a team.”

The event also gave families the chance to visit their child’s classroom and participate in hands-on activities together. More than just a fun night, Forster said events like this strengthen communication and build trust between school and home.

“We want students to go home and talk about what is happening at school,” she said. “Going right to the classroom makes it more personable. Families get to know staff better, they see the families their child is friends with, and the overall atmosphere is more impactful than a large-scale event — especially at this point in the school year when teachers, scholars, and families are getting to know one another.”

Together, these efforts are helping Lincoln strengthen the bridge between home and school.

“Having consistent attendance allows for the opportunity to help students feel connected to their teachers, their classmates, and their learning,” Velazquez said. “It’s that connection that is most impactful to their success. That is why these initiatives and events are important. They send the message that showing up matters. They turn attendance into something exciting rather than just expected. By recognizing the effort behind it, we’re helping students associate school with positivity, consistency, and pride.”