Showing up for success — Tayliyah's attendance turnaround

Tayliyah Purcell is a beautiful young girl in year 6 at Beenleigh State School. Last year, Tayliyah was missing up to three days of school each week, which made it difficult for her to keep up with her learning. The gaps in her attendance began to impact her confidence, particularly in subjects like maths.

At the start of this term, Tayliyah set an ambitious goal: to significantly improve her attendance, with a stretch target of reaching above 90 percent and earning the ARTIE term reward.

Since then, Tayliyah has shown incredible commitment. Each morning, she walks to school with her mum and two siblings, building a consistent routine that has helped her stay engaged with her learning. While showing up before first bell still proves to be a challenge, Tayliyah is no longer missing full days—a huge step forward from last year.

Her hard work is paying off. Tayliyah’s attendance for the term has reached 91.7%, earning her the well-deserved term reward. Alongside her improved attendance, Tayliyah has been working diligently on her maths skills. Every Friday, I meet with her to practise multiplication. At the beginning, even her 2 times tables felt overwhelming, and she was hesitant to attempt the work.

With patience, encouragement, and consistent practice, Tayliyah has made outstanding progress. She is now confidently working with all her times tables up to 12—a significant achievement that reflects both her determination and the impact of one-on-one support. Tayliyah has shown real perseverance. She’s gone from feeling unsure to tackling challenges with confidence. It’s been amazing to watch her grow. Maeve Toombes

ARTIE Mentor