Students at Bonneville Elementary were all smiles as they lined up for a chance to dunk their principal—turning good attendance into a memorable and splashy celebration.
To celebrate students who maintained a 95% or higher attendance rate throughout April and May, Bonneville hosted a one-of-a-kind reward: a chance to dunk Principal Julie Neilson in a dunk tank. Each eligible student received two chances to hit the target—and many did, sending cheers and splashes flying on a sunny school day.
The event was part of a school-wide effort to encourage strong attendance and remind families that showing up every day truly matters.
“If kids are not at school, then they can’t learn, so the first step is getting your kids to school — that’s the most important thing,” said Principal Neilson. “Our students who miss school are missing a lot of good learning and information. It’s interesting because parents go, ‘Oh, you know, they’re just gone one day.’ One day puts kids eight hours behind, so students are always struggling to get caught up.”
Neilson said the incentive was a success, with noticeable results.
“We have seen an increase in attendance this last month or so than we have through the whole year,” she said.
At Bonneville, the message is clear: showing up matters—and sometimes, it even earns you the chance to dunk your principal.