By MATT LINDSEY

POTSDAM -- Lawrence Avenue School is shifting gears from “Bucket Filling” to promoting the goal of improving student attendance for academic success.

Students who missed zero days or very few days were recognized recently for perfect or near-perfect attendance for the first quarter of the year.

“Rock Stars” received a certificate for attending every day of school so far this year. Students who came close were awarded with “Super Star” certificates.

“Bucket Filling” is a program aimed at teaching students to treat each other with respect and kindness. Students were recognized as “Bucket Fillers” through assemblies, certificates and having the honor of wearing former PCS Principal’s Larry Jenne’s tie for the day. “Bucket Filling” is based on a book by author Carol McCloud

“We are never happy unless kids are in school each day,” Potsdam Central Superintendent Joann Chambers said. “Being in school every day has be proven to equal a better chance at success for students.”

If a student misses 10 percent of the days of school it is considered a chronic problem, she said.

Chambers said she realized that there a legitimate reasons to miss school for doctor appointments and such, but that the school wants to reinforce the message to families that student attendance is important to an efficacious education.

Chambers said the final decision to stop “Bucket Filling” has not been made, but that for now, an emphasis was being placed on improving student attendance.