Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ones. For our Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada (CIS), Seaniese Dunbar from Ruby Duncan Elementary, it started with a question:
“Who’s coming to school?”
From that one line, Seaniese created a snappy tune that quickly grew into a full-blown music video, complete with enthusiastic teachers, staff, and students ready to play their part.
“Once I had the tune, the rest was easy,” Seaniese said. “Everyone jumped in with so much energy. We filmed it all in just one day.”
The video is more than just fun and laughter; it carries an important reminder. Staying healthy matters, but when students are able to attend, it makes a big difference:
“Go to the doctor, get a note. We’ll excuse it. Keep attendance on your mind. You can do it.”
To make things even more exciting, Ruby Duncan is introducing monthly raffle drawings and a friendly competition to see which grade level has the best attendance.
And while the staff admit they cracked themselves up while filming, the video ends with a clear and heartfelt message from eight Ruby Duncan Dreamkeepers:
“COME TO SCHOOL!”
The video has just debuted, but it’s already making waves. Students and parents are buzzing about how cool it is, proving that sometimes the most powerful tools for change are creativity, community, and a little bit of music.
As we celebrate Attendance Awareness Month, this project serves as a reminder of how Communities In Schools site coordinators find creative and personal ways to help students stay connected, engaged, and on track for success.
Seaniese and the Duncan Elementary School team were recently featured on 8 News Now. Watch here.
