The school, in partnership with Communities in Schools and CareSource, held the Strive for Five – Being Present Matters assembly, where students learned about how being at school consistently makes a positive impact on their lives. The discussion paired perfectly with the National Heritage Academies'® Strive for Five initiative, which encourages students to aim for five absences or fewer this school year.
One special guest made it even more exciting. Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown made an appearance at the assembly. While it was a moment of joy for many young Bengals fans in the crowd, Brown shared a message about the power of being present. He related the theme of attendance not only to his life as a professional athlete, but also to his own experience as a student, sharing how being present helped him succeed in school and meet his goals.
Brown was accompanied by Who Dey, the Bengals mascot, and the pair interacted with students, doling out plenty of high fives, taking countless selfies, and signing mini footballs. A handful of students also got to ask Brown a question, making for a lasting memory.
After everyone took part in cheers and chants promoting attendance, Brown became the first person to sign Alliance’s Strive for Five pledge banner, showing his commitment to being present every day. Each class then took a turn to sign their names to the banner, continuing their efforts to make attendance a priority.
Thanks to this support from Communities in Schools, CareSource, Chase Brown, and Who Dey, students left feeling compelled to be present and continue learning every day.
How cool! Keep up the great work, Alliance!
About Alliance Academy of Cincinnati
Alliance Academy of Cincinnati is a tuition-free, public charter school in Cincinnati, Ohio, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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