On September 5th, Berlin Elementary Principal Mrs. Jodi Cataldo hosted BES’s first monthly Character Education assembly of the school year, alongside Character Education Committee members and BES teachers Mrs. Kasey Hannigan and Ms. Jessica Rontey, for students in kindergarten through 5th grade.
The committee started by introducing the overall theme for the school year, which is ‘Coming Together: 4 Towns One Community!’ Mrs. Rontey asked the Mountaineers to stand up when their town was called. It was exciting for the students to stand with pride when their town was called.
As BES Mountaineers jump into the 2025-2026 school year, BES’ Character Education committee focused its first monthly assemblies on the character trait of Respect. Respect was defined for the students as treating others how you and they want to be treated, being kind and polite, and showing others you care about their feelings.
The Mountaineers were then shown different visuals and asked by Mrs. Hannigan to volunteer to identify if respect was being demonstrated in the scenario for their Mountaineers peers. The Mountaineers did an awesome job showing their knowledge of the trait and impressed Principal Cataldo with how respectful they were being throughout the first assembly.
Great job, Mountaineers!
Being a BES Mountaineer means being responsible, safe, and respectful. Merits will again be given out this school year throughout the month by BES staff and bus drivers to celebrate students who demonstrate these traits.
These students are given merits that are deposited in the Mountaineer Merit container found in the main hallway. Containers are in the main hallway for K-2 Merits, 3-5 Merits, and Bus Merits. Principal Cataldo will draw ten merit recipients (five from kindergarten to second grade and five from third to fifth grade) and three from the bus merit container each month for recognition and a prize.
Mrs. Kneer’s fourth graders did an outstanding job showing respect during the assembly and took a class walk together to deposit their first merit in the container. SRO Deputy DaLessio, who was in the main hallway at the time, congratulated the class and took time to answer the Mountaineers’ questions about her role in the school building. Thank you, Deputy DaLessio, for always making time to reach out and connect with all Mountaineers!
Starting in the month of October, there will also be monthly Character Counts award recipients selected by classroom teachers and announced during the monthly assemblies.
The Mountaineers recited the Mountaineer Mantra during the assembly all together today, and it was a thrill for the Kindergarteners, the newest members at the Character Education assemblies.
Mountaineers Mantra
The Mountaineers are WE!
RESPONSIBLE, SAFE, RESPECTFUL!
Berlin students all agree!
RESPONSIBLE, SAFE, RESPECTFUL!
We climb, we climb, we climb!
RESPONSIBLE, SAFE, RESPECTFUL!
We do it every time!
RESPONSIBLE, SAFE, RESPECTFUL!
Have a great school year BES Mountaineers!
Go Mountaineers!!