Louise Smith, right, Snow Hill Elementary School secretary, and Cheryl Martin, assistance vice president-branch manager at Northwest Georgia Bank’s Ooltewah branch, rewards fourth-graders in Jennifer Griffin’s class with a trip to the prize cart. Clockwise, from left, are Madison Shaw, Thomas Goodpasture (hidden), Peyton Matheny, Brady Bales, Hannah Brown, Andrew Bingham and Mitchell O’Neil.
Northwest Georgia Bank is again helping two local elementary schools motivate students to attend school daily.
The community bank is sponsoring the BUCS (Because U Came to School) attendance recognition program at Boynton Elementary School and the SOAR (Student Outstanding Attendance Rewards) program at Snow Hill Elementary School.
Now in its second year and funded with a $1,000 corporate sponsorship, SOAR rewards students who have perfect attendance every nine weeks and at year’s end. According to Shane Harwood, school principal, the school’s attendance rose four percent last year thanks to the SOAR program and the hard work of Snow Hill social worker Sonya Hermon, named the Hamilton County Social Worker of the Year by Bethel Bible Village in February.
Since 2004, Northwest has sponsored Boynton Elementary School’s BUCS program. On a weekly basis, Northwest Georgia Bank employees make surprise visits to classrooms that have perfect attendance and no tardies for that day.
On a monthly basis, students with perfect attendance earn a chance in a drawing for a $10 gift card to Wal-Mart. One winner is drawn per grade level and recognized during morning announcements. Students earning perfect attendance for the school year are rewarded with a field trip to the Chattanooga IMAX Theater, popcorn, and soft drinks.
Also funded with a $1,000 corporate sponsorship, the BUCS program is in its sixth year.
Pictured, left to right, Nancy Masengil, fourth-grade teacher at Boynton Elementary School, and Kathy Lehman and Dana Williams, employees from the Northwest Georgia Bank Financial Centre on Battlefield Parkway, reward the class for exemplary attendance.