On Tuesday, Coppell High School students traveled off campus for an extended lunch as a reward for perfect attendance. 

While CHS currently awards Gold, Red, and Green lunches (if students receive all As, Bs, or complete a certain amount of tutoring hours, respectively), Purple Lunch is awarded based on perfect attendance for a nine-week grading period. This means students cannot have any tardies, absences (excused or unexcused) to qualify. 

Assistant principal Anna Wanderski said 680 students qualified for Purple Lunch on Tuesday based on their attendance for marking period one.   

”We want to reward the kids who are coming, 100% of the time,” Wanderski said. “We figured that if we gave an off campus lunch to those learners, other kids would try to have perfect attendance records.”

Students earning Purple Lunch received an email verification from registrar Erin Kelly.

“I think Purple Lunch is fair. It encourages people to attend class,” sophomore Frankie Davis said. “But I think it should be moved to two or three absences.”

Students can currently qualify for the next Purple Lunch during the spring semester based on marking period two attendance.

“I have had a lot of learners come in and question why they didn’t have purple lunch, and we look up their attendance, and they likely were tardy,” Wanderski said. “It might’ve been a little thing, but it’s still one little thing that affects attendance.” 

Attendance is an important factor for how much money CISD receives, among others. This is just one of many measures CHS has taken to improve attendance rates. 

“I usually go off campus for Gold Lunch, so I like Purple Lunch,” junior Vignesh Somasundaram said. “They are fun, especially when you get to be with all your friends.”

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