Footy stars’ message full of class

COWBOYS greats Ray Thompson and Matt Bowen stopped at Townsville primary schools to tackle truancy rates.

They have been visiting schools across North Queensland as part of the Try for 5! Challenge, encouraging students to attend school.

Vincent State School was one of five schools Thompson and Bowen stopped at yesterday.

“We came into the prep class to encourage the kids – they get a little excited when they see myself and Matty come in. We played some games and reiterated the importance of coming to school,” Thompson said. “We came to Vincent to visit the preppies to make sure they’re on track.”

Schools are invited to compete in the Try for 5! Challenge and achieve a 100 per cent attendance rate.

Prep teacher Cassie Koppe said her prep class was aiming to help their school claim top spot on the leaderboard.

“At the beginning of this term our class had an average of about 80 per cent, however, for the last five weeks prep have moved up into the 90s,” Ms Koppe said.

“I had one little girl who maybe attended two or three weeks of term one, whereas now she’s only missed two days of term two.”

Bowen and Thompson encourage students by participating in classroom activities, motivating individual students and recording video messages to some students who need extra support.