Print
E-Mail
tool name
closeArtdondale students show their ‘Terrific’ qualities by helping others
Kiwanis hopes other schools will add program next year
Hugh McMillan
Special to the Gateway
Gig Harbor Kiwanis have struck again. This time with the “Terrific Kids Program” at Artondale Elementary, the first Peninsula School District school to employ the program.
Sherry Mattiassi, program chair, and fellow Kiwanis members Carol and Steven Arnold and John Bare attended the Artondale assembly where it was introduced.
Artondale’s Julia Bare and Nate Sears, enthusiastic about the program, have spread their enthusiasm among fellow teachers, staff and, most importantly, students.
Incidentally, “Terrific” translates to: Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive and Capable.
“We talked last year about increasing recognition of student positive character traits; we only recognized students at year’s end, which doesn’t keep good behavior on students’ radar screens,” Sears said.
A daily nomination list is read during morning announcements, a reminder that students would be honored as “Otter of the Month” at an assembly that recognizes one student from each classroom. There’s also a recognition party for all nominees at the end of the year.
“The program has not only been well-received by students who daily strive to be better citizens, but also by staff who take pride in nominating students,” Artondale Principal Kathy Weymiller said. “It has increased the positive culture of our already phenomenal building and made being good a goal of every person who calls Artondale home!”
It’s obvious. I was impressed!
Kindergarten teachers mentioned Dylan Amidon, Isaac Farquhar, Conner Tanksley and Emily Zinter for their kind deeds.
First-grader Ryan Voves takes pride in helping others.
“I pick up scraps,” Voves said. “If someone is hurt, I ask if they are OK.”
Classmate Anna Haws said she’s always helping others get materials, and she helps classmates follow directions.
“I got a Thoughtful Award because I think about other people,” Haws said.
Luke Elliott encourages others to share school supplies, quietly helps others put chairs up at the end of the day and leads by example
“Thoughtful means to be a good example,” Elliott said.
Masaki Albrecht and Emma Reinmuth also are thoughtful when it comes to their classmates.
“Terrific Kids works on character education in elementary grades,” said Carol Arnold, who recently joined Kiwanis because of its mission of building communities beginning with children.
She said she enjoyed seeing Artondale involved in the Thoughtful attribute and how it’s reinforced every morning.
“(I was) impressed with how well-mannered and thoughtful the first of the year assembly was,” said Arnold, who added that she’s looking forward to seeing how Enthusiastic the kids are next month.
Second-grade teachers pointed out the efforts of Emily Lehoskey and Connor McMichael.
“I always listen to the rules and put up stuff without being asked,” McMichael said. “And I never give up.”
Molly Blake, a caring girl who senses when others need her help, will give up a turn, a treat or a place in line if she thinks someone needs it more than she — and she does it with a smile.
“I helped about half the class with their Johnny Appleseed paper,” Blake said.
Mattiassi said students learn to set and achieve goals and compete only with themselves, not with other students.
Teachers in each of the 22 classes select two students from each class to be recognized over the public-address system and have their picture taken. The pictures hang in a special Terrific Kids display in the school lobby.
Each trimester, these students will be honored at a special recognition gathering and receive an award certificate, a vehicle bumper sticker and a special recognition prize.
Third-grade teachers highlighted Morgan Schembs, Justin Shaw and Emily Kemp, new to Artondale this year.
“I encourage, and I help fix my classmates problems,” Kemp said.
Fourth-grader Chloe Iverson helps carry the lunch tote back to the room when the helper forgets to do so, or she puts up someone’s chair for them.
“I do school chores without being asked,” Iverson said.
Makenna Edwards always has a smile and a kind word.
“I helped a friend with her tray when she was done with lunch,” Edwards said.
Trevor Kvinsland is kind and helpful to all students and teachers. When a classmate lost a wallet, Kvinsland immediately found the child and returned it.
Another child was upset when something broke, so when Kvinsland was out with his family, he saw a similar item and bought it to replace the broken one.
Fifth-graders Caitlin Helmholz and Kristi Leverett were nominated because they escort Parent Pick-up students safely to the pick-up area after school.
Classmate Connor Robbins shows thoughtfulness by staying a few minutes after other students have left to do jobs that didn’t get completed.
Spencer Clague, thoughtful in a quiet sort of way, helped a classmate and the teacher without drawing attention to himself.
Amanda Marcinkowski brought treats for those who didn’t have any, and she brings her teacher her mail every day. She even started a fundraising campaign to help baby otters.
Courtney Richardson went to the library during recess to help shelve a big stack of books that were returned after the Book Fair.
Anna Dworsky always helps the Science Specialist with extra cleaning in the science room.
In all, 26 students were honored at the Sept. 30 special assembly.
Kiwanis Club members hope to encourage one or more PSD schools to take up the Terrific Kids program in the 2010-11 school year. For more information, call Mattiassi at 253-857-8212.