Between the splash of a dunk tank, the beat of a snowball dance, and the sweet relief of lemonade for honor roll students, this school year at Kenwood turned hard work into something students could actually look forward to. From Halloween to April, the hallways buzzed with a new kind of energy. One where good grades and good attendance led to something more than a report card.
For students who hit 90 percent or better in achievement and attendance, the year was packed with half-day celebrations designed to do one thing: get kids in the door and excited to stay. Principal Smith and Mr. Goldbeck were the people who organized the series of incentive events throughout the 2025-2026 school year here at Kenwood High School.
According to Ms. Smith, timing is everything. “Some of the events are held on half of a day so it would be motivational for the students to come to school,” Ms. Smith shard. That strategy appears to be working. Since Ms. Smith began holding these events on half days, attendance has gone up 20 percent.
The fun kicked off with a half-day event on Halloween, followed by a pre-Thanksgiving event on November 26. January brought two big highlights: a “Vibe tribe” event on the 16th and tickets to the hippodrome on January 30th. February’s Snowball dance gave students a winter reason to show up, while a free ticket to a basketball game served as a smaller but appreciated incentive.
Spring kept the momentum going. On April 1st, the school hosted the “Dunk and Splash,” which Ms. Smith said it was “a blast and it turned out great”. Later in April, honor roll students were rewarded with lemonade on the 24th.
Looking ahead, Ms. Smith is already planning for next year. She may add a full half-day Culture Day in March, expanding beyond the one held this past March. Keep those grades up and don’t miss a day–you never know what might be coming next. “The events are so kids have something to look forward to when they get good grades and good attendance,” Ms. Smith said. And if this year was any sign, Kenwood’s best days are still ahead.
