Every Day Counts
When families and schools work together, students discover how showing up each day shapes lasting success.
Long before most alarms go off, the Miroddi family is up and moving. Senior Isabella throws on the clothes she prepared the night before, grabs the lunch her mom packed, and heads out the door by six to work in the Eagle Mountain High School (EMHS) cafeteria before class begins. By the time the first bell rings, she has already been hard at work for several hours, and she hasn’t missed a day yet.
“Show up, put the work in. You have to love what you do,” Isabella said.
For her, showing up isn’t just a habit. It is the foundation of her future. Between tennis, National Honor Society (NHS), HOSA (a student organization for future health professionals), Student Council, and her pharmacy coursework, attendance is non-negotiable.
“If I miss more than 10 days in my pharmacy class, I can’t take the test to become a pharmacy tech. That keeps me motivated because I want to be a pharmacist.”
EMHS Principal Dr. Ron Gatlin believes attendance sets the tone for success.
“Regular attendance not only helps you stay on track to reach that finish line but also enhances your high school experience,” he said. “By being present, you
connect with friends and fully participate in all the activities that make this time so memorable.”
At Copper Creek Elementary, mornings look a little different, but the dedication is the same. Fourth grader Loralie Larance and her sister, first grader Landrie, team up to prepare for each day. Lunches are packed, clothes are laid out, water bottles filled, and pep talks exchanged before heading out the door.
“We help each other if someone is tired, and we always try to leave the house happy,” Loralie said. Landrie added simply: “I love school. It’s really fun.”
Their mom, Kristen Larance, says that kind of consistency doesn’t just happen by accident. “It takes preparation, and as a parent it’s hard sometimes,” she said. “But one day behind can set you back four or five days. We’ve learned the importance
of staying organized and making school a priority.”
As both a mother and a first-grade teacher, Kristen sees the difference attendance makes.
“Lessons build on each other. You never know what hands-on experience you might miss, such as a science experiment, a celebration or a chance to lead. That’s why showing up matters.”
From the quiet discipline of a high school senior chasing her dream of pharmacy to the teamwork of two elementary sisters laying out clothes and cheering each other on, EMS ISD students and families are proving that high attendance equals high achievement, and every day counts. Each day in school brings them one step closer to their goals. And that’s why in EMS ISD attendance matters, because EMS ISD students are here today, ready tomorrow.
