The second grade students of Berlin Elementary started the school year off with some very important work. After reading books and sharing personal stories, they made a list of things that they value. They sorted the items into two groups: things that can be bought and things that can’t. The classes came together to discuss their values, and to help write some rules that will protect the things that are important to them. Students realized that the reason we have rules is to protect what we value. The rules that students wrote were turned into a Second Grade Contract. All of the members of the second-grade community signed the contract and will use it to guide their behavior throughout the school year.   – BES 2nd Grade Team, Mrs. Ruebel, Mrs. Kneer, Mrs. Healy, Mrs. Tregger, Mrs. Schumaker, and Mrs. Winner