Sophomores most often in school

The large colorful sign currently adorning the exterior of the elevator, part of a new program at Blair, the Blair Renaissance Program, shows the September attendance for each Blair class.

Sophomores have the best attendance with 95.06 percent, the freshmen are second with 94.85 percent attendance, juniors have 94.75 percent, and seniors have the worst attendance rates: 94.70 percent.

The attendance of each class is based on the number of students who are at school each day, whether or not the absence is excused. This information is then compiled by the county and sent to Ms. Fus in the attendance office as a percentage of attendance for each class.

Patricia Anderson, the program director of the Renaissance Program, plans to post the percentages of attendance for each class, with the hope of starting a competition where each class strives to have better attendance than the rest.

The class which has the best attendance at the end of the year will receive a prize from one of the program's business sponsors in the area. The confirmed sponsors are Santuccis, Fresh Fields, and Jostens. Anderson hopes for more businesses to join in the future, especially Starbucks, Subway, Jerry's Subs and Pizza, Papa John's, Planet Hollywood, and other businesses which serve Blair students.

The results for attendance in the month of October will probably arrive later this week and Anderson will post them sometime in the near future.

The Blair Renaissance Program is dedicated to reviving pride in academic achievement by recognizing students, faculty, and staff for individual achievements in attendance and academic excellence. It is intended to improve students' attendance, academic performance, and school spirit.

Anderson first began the Renaissance Program in her home high school, Sachem High School, on Long Island in New York. Started in 1994, Anderson's senior year, she says the program has been "going strong ever since." The program now has hundreds of business sponsors who give discounts to students and help to support the program.

Anderson has great pride in the Renaissance Program in New York and feels that it has been very successful. "It really motivates students to do better in school," she says.