Walk the halls at La Vista Middle School and you notice something before any spreadsheet tells you. Staff know their students' stories, interests, and daily happenings, and that connection is the whole point behind the school's approach to attendance.
For two years, LVMS has built its attendance strategy around one idea. You Belong Here.
"You Belong Here means intentionally creating an environment where students feel connected," said Allyson Judson, Assistant Principal at LVMS. "Staff are purposeful in their interactions with students and understand that when students feel a connection to adults, each other, activities, they're more likely to attend school regularly. Students succeed when they are present and engaged in their education."
Sometimes this philosophy shows up quietly, in a hallway check-in or a teacher remembering your weekend plans, and sometimes it shows up loud. Last year, LVMS ran two events built around attendance, a pop-up party and a drawing to (temporarily) tattoo the SRO, and neither happened by chance.
"We intentionally choose times that the data shows our attendance is statistically in a slump and give students something fun to give them that extra push to come to school on the days that are hard," Judson said. Reminders went out at lunch and through Advisory in the days before each event, building anticipation for something worth showing up for.
The numbers back this up. Before LVMS shifted its focus toward belonging, more than 20 percent of students were chronically absent, and during the 2025-26 school year that number dropped below 14 percent, falling as low as 9 percent at some points during the year.
"These numbers show that proactive practices and intentionality make a huge difference," Judson said.
For LVMS staff, this goes beyond a number on a report. "The staff at LVMS care about your child and want to make a positive difference in their lives," Judson said. "It's hard to make an impact when students are not at school. The staff at LVMS are dedicated to helping your child succeed in all aspects of their educational journey. We want to partner with you. If you're having a hard time getting your child to school, please communicate with us. We are here to help."
Digital Bonus
We asked students at La Vista Middle School to share something good going on in their lives - these are just a few. This is a simple reminder about why we do what we do in Papillion La Vista Community Schools!