Berlin Elementary School’s Kindergarten through 5th-grade Mountaineers gathered in April for a Character Education Assembly, celebrating peers who embody the monthly character trait and inspiring others to do the same!
The Mountaineers started the assembly by reciting the Mountaineer Mantra, led this month by the third-grade Mountaineers.
The character trait for April was perseverance, the ability to keep trying and never give up even when things are difficult. To demonstrate this trait, kindergarten teachers Mr. Dobbins and Mrs. Hannigan were challenged with an M&M Minute to Win It game in front of the assembly. This fast-paced, 60-second challenge used M&M candies to test dexterity and focus, using a straw to transfer candies from one dish to the other. Mr. Dobbins and Mrs. Hannigan showed perseverance in a fun way, demonstrating that even tough tasks can be accomplished when you focus, troubleshoot, and push through a challenge. The BES Mountaineers have been doing an excellent job at that this month as the school year winds down and state testing is underway. Great job showing perseverance, Mountaineers!
Character Counts
During the month of February/March, the character trait at BES was diversity, the idea that people are different in many ways and that these differences make us all unique and special.
Mountaineers who showed kindness over the month were awarded the monthly Character Counts award. A Character Counts Award was announced for each classroom, and this year, the BES Art, Music, and Physical Education teachers are also awarding Character Count Awards to a student who goes above and beyond to model the monthly trait in their classes.
Congratulations to the Character Counts recipients!
Kindergarten: Elliott Galusha and Paisley Gardner
First Grade: Ashton Kaubisch and Olivia Smith
Second Grade: Paisley Groux, Arlo Schmidt, and Emersyn King
Shooting Stars 3-5: Liliann Dickinson
Third Grade: Kierden Day and Eddie Williams
Fourth Grade: Paisley Murphy and Piper Garcia
Fifth Grade: Maggie Etman and Jayde Riccardi
Physical Education: Keegan Dunham
Music: Emmerson Galusha
Art: Bailey Buck
Attendance Matters
At Berlin CSD, attendance matters, and every day at school counts. Principal Cataldo’s attendance initiatives this year emphasize this important message. One initiative is the monthly Attendance Superstars! The class with the best attendance for the month is recognized during the assembly, and their door is decorated to acknowledge outstanding attendance.
Congratulations to February/March’s Attendance Superstars: Bright Stars Class
Another initiative is the Attendance Jar, which is added to each time a class has perfect attendance at BES. Once the jar in the main hallway is filled, a surprise celebration will occur. So far, the Mountaineers have celebrated the jar filling up four times: an impromptu dance party, a popcorn surprise during lunch, a lunch and a movie where the students watched Frosty the Snowman together during lunch, and a Smarties celebration this month. Way to go, Mountaineers! Principal Cataldo looks forward to celebrating the excellent attendance improvements at BES each month; the flowers already overflowed in the jar this month and the Mountaineers were treated to a short movies during lunch. Remember, every day counts, and you never know when an attendance celebration will occur.
Merit Winners
Being a Mountaineer means being responsible, safe, and respectful. Each month, merits are awarded by BES staff and bus drivers to celebrate students who demonstrate these traits. These students are given merits to be deposited in the Mountaineer Merit containers (K-2, 3-5, and bus merits) found in the main hallway. Principal Cataldo randomly draws 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.
Before announcing the individual Merit winners Mrs. Cataldo announced the class who was showing they are responsible, safe, and respectful during the last assembly.
Congratulations to the Merit Winners!
Addison Burdick, Zaydyn Thomas, Killian Thompson, Tylie Webster, Dantevion Johnson, Rut Zoe Lopez Gonzalez, Ryan Gates, Ensley Wood, Finn Gundlach, and George LaMountain
Bus Merits: Priyansh Chaudhari, Christopher (CJ) Nissen, Christopher Houghtling