Students approach the front desk of the attendance office every day to the familiar faces of Vickie Balabanos and Rachel Cascio, South’s two attendance clerks.

Balabanos and Cascio have been working in the Dean’s Office for eight years, tracking attendance and excusing students for situations, such as field trips or appointments, Cascio said. They must deal with different tasks, like plugging attendance into Powerschool, listening to phone calls from guardians, and checking nurses sheets and emails, Balabanos added. Both have students coming to their desk throughout the entire day to sign in and out. Their busy days do not leave them much free time to leave their desks, but they still enjoy their time, Balabanos said.

“We manage to have lots of fun too,” Balabanos said. “The kids are a blast, we joke with them and they [are] a good group of kids.”

Along with a relationship with each other, Balabanos and Cascio develop strong relationships and understanding with the students they interact with.

“We get to know [students] personally,” Balabanos said. “We never judge them for being late.”

Spending most of the day in desks right next to one another helped them get very close and create a fun environment, Balabanos and Cascio explained. They see each other more than anyone else, or sometimes even more than their own families, helping them build a relationship that makes their jobs so great, both explained.

“We [are] always playing music, eating, and laughing,” Balabanos said. “It [is] a fun time from start to finish.”

Balabanos and Cascio believe that they help students with much more than just attendance, by helping them navigate, creating a safe space, and being a friendly face to say “Hi” to. They try to be a comfort for students by supporting them in many ways and advocating for them, both explained.

“I think we [are] like an ally for the kids,” Cascio said. “As the [students] get to know us more, they feel like it [is] a safe space here.”

Balabanos and Cascio try to provide a space where students can take a break with people who will understand and help them when needed, Cascio explained.

“We understand that [students] have a lot going on, so [they] may need a breather,” Cascio said.

Both hope that in the future of their careers at the attendance office students will continue to approach them and talk with them so they can continue to help and get to know the student body, Balabanos and Cascio said.

“I hope we make a positive impact,” Cascio said.