Vallivue High School is starting a schoolwide campaign called “Beat the Bell.” This is a new challenge inspired by the lack of attendance and abundance of tardies in classes this school year. This idea was imposed by our principal other admins, enforced by the entire school staff, and was placed into effect on January 6 at the start of the new semester. The goal of ”Beat the Bell” is to reduce tardies by 20% between January and May during the 2026 semester.
While this program has the main purpose of reducing tardies, it also hopes to resolve disciplinary issues, teaching students that time management is essential, for simple things like sleep and self care, but also school assignments and other important things. Our vice principal Mr. Holtry shared a few key words in the process of “Beat the Bell” including recognition, competition, and data driven responsibility to reinforce these values in the school. By creating a schoolwide competition, the admin hopes that students will be more driven to focus on tardies and not just absences, which is often the main attendance focus of students.
It might sometimes be a challenge to run through the halls to the next class across the school and up the stairs, but this is easily achievable in the five minute passing period as long as students take in minimal distractions and focus on getting to class by the ring of the bell. Time management also takes a course in this challenge, which is why there is a one minute reminder bell, giving students and staff a warning that they should head to class if they are not there already. If students take this into account, there is hope that attendance will improve schoolwide by the end of the school year.
Reinforcing the consistency of attendance and the expectations across all of the classes in the school is an essential factor for student learning. While this initiative will be enforced as a competition, most competitions come with a prize of some kind. Perfect on time attendance will be rewarded bi-weekly with a drawing. The drawing includes gift cards, school swag, and lunch passes. Whether motivation lies within the prizes, bragging rights, or the competition itself, it doesn’t change the fact that every second counts and getting to class on time can do justice to a student’s learning experience. So, students at Vallivue High, can you beat the bell?
Update: The first round of prizes were given to students who have “Beat the Bell” the first two weeks of school! 24 students were randomly selected from an IC report of students who had zero tardies between Jan. 6 and Jan 16. These students received a lunch “Fast Pass” allowing them to skip to the front of the lunch line until Jan. 30. After that, new students will be awarded Fast Passes.
