Today, Berlin Elementary Principal Ms. Jodi Cataldo and Character Education Committee member Ms. Jessica Rontey hosted BES’ kick-off Character Education assembly for students in kindergarten through 5th grade. The Character Education Committee will have staff from each grade level at BES this year, focusing on the theme ‘Growing Together.’ A beautiful bulletin board with this theme was created in the main hallway by BES 2nd-grade teacher Ms. Karyn Healy. Each month, a new trait will be added to its limbs.
This month, the BES Character Education trait is respect, defined as treating others and your surroundings in a way that shows you care. The Mountaineers were asked to offer examples of what respect looks and sounds like to them. The students volunteered thoughtful answers, including cleaning up your area after lunch and offering a helping hand if a friend falls. To follow up the discussion, they were shown a video:
Principal Cataldo and BES Behavior Interventionist Ms. Katie Hooks also took time during the assembly to go over building expectations using a newly streamlined Behavior Matrix poster that will be posted around the building for Mountaineers to reference throughout their day. Please review this updated and more focused poster with your Mountaineer below. During the assembly, Ms. Cataldo paused to acknowledge the outstanding respect all the Mountaineers were demonstrating and how impressive it was that it was occurring during the first assembly. Great job, Mountaineers!
Attendance
Berlin Elementary Counselors Ms. Ryan Steller (rsteller@berlincentral.org) and Mr. James Taylor-Shaw (jtaylorshaw@berlincentral.org) took time during the assembly to talk about the importance of coming to school every day. Attending school every day is essential for learning and growth. Ms. Steller and Mr. Taylor-Shaw let the Mountaineers know how much their presence at school matters and how each student is a critical part of the greater community. If your Mountaineer is struggling with motivation to attend school, please reach out to our amazing BES Counseling staff; attendance matters. The Attendance Jar will be added to again this school year each time a class has perfect attendance at BES. Once the jar in the main hallway is filled, a surprise celebration will occur. Last year, some of the celebrations included an impromptu dance party, a popcorn surprise during lunch, a lunch and a movie, and a Smarties celebration. Keep it up, Mountaineers!
Merits & Character Counts
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 labeled 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. Starting in 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 fun to see the Kindergarteners, the newest members at the Character Education assemblies, join in.
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!