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Terrific Kids recognized with help of service club |
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Wednesday, 20 February 2008 |
The Kiwanis Club of Taber is involved in a wide variety of aspects in the community, and the schools are no different.
By Sharon Ulrich
Taber Times
Through the Bring Up Grades (BUG) program at L.T. Westlake school and Terrific Kids program at Dr. Hamman school, all students have a chance to be recognized through a group separate from the school.
L.T. Westlake school principal Dan Schindeler notes BUG has been with the school for a long time, many year's prior to his four years with the school.
With three main reporting periods in the school year, he explains if students bring their grades up in any of the core classes from the first to the second report card, or from the second to the third, they get recognition from the BUG program.
"So basically, from first reporting period to second reporting period, any student who brought up their grades would be eligible. And then the Kiwanis come in and present and they get a BUG certificate - a real cool little certificate - a button and a pencil."
While some schools are moving away from honour rolls and honourable mentions a little bit, Schindeler says at Westlake, if students are eligible, they still have the honour-roll system. Yet, with the BUG program, all kids are eligible and can get academic recognition.
"It doesn't matter if you got 40 per cent and you brought it up to 50. You brought up your grades. We really like it because it shows they've put a little more effort in it and tried a little harder."
Quite a few students are recognized for their improvements, and Schindeler notes they really like getting such recognition in front of their peers.
"The kids have a big smile on their face when they go up and they're really proud of themselves so I think it's a really good thing for the kids. With the BUG program, it's not just Mr. Schindeler handing them this certificate... The Kiwanis come from the outside and it makes it more special. If we had the exact same award and it was done just internally, it's not as special."
Kiwanis member and past president Helen Wentz, orders awards, pencils and other supplies needed for programs the Kiwanians support in schools.
"I can tell you that we do it because the Kiwanis motto is serving the children of the world," says Wentz, who notes in years past, that motto has been Children are Priority Number One. "So anytime we can get a project that involves children, we jump at it."
Wentz indicates while the program is doing something for kids, it's also about instilling self-confidence in any student.
"It doesn't matter if they're the smartest kid in the school or not, they're still important and both of those programs would help the kids to feel more confident," she says in reference to the BUG and Terrific Kids programs offered. "It's trying to provide a service program that's geared towards children that follows the Kiwanis' reason for being."
The Kiwanis help students at Dr. Hamman school through the Terrific Kids program, of which principal Darlene Peckford says they have been doing for about 12 years.
With a big banner from Kiwanis at the front entrance that states, This School is Full of Terrific Kids, another banner around the corner lists all the character traits the school looks for, and to let students know what they are aiming for, she notes.
As an acronym, TERRIFIC relates to kids who are Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive and Capable.
"It's a program that emphasizes positive attitudes, good character and responsible citizenship."
Each week, teachers give Peckford names of students from their classrooms who demonstrate such characteristics, and then on Monday morning she announces a personal tribute to each student over the PA system.
"The tributes express our appreciation for their good character and their positive attitudes, how responsible they're being and the tributes are really specific to each child being recognized."
Each student receives a pencil, badge and Terrific Kids certificate that is displayed in the main hallway for a number of weeks. Outside their classrooms, Peckford notes their names are also displayed to announce to passersby who is a Terrific Kid in that classroom.
"We love this program and we're so thankful to the Kiwanis Club for their sponsorship because it really enhances what Dr. Hamman school culture is all about as a school - parents, staff, students included. We place a huge emphasis on ensuring all of our kids have positive attitudes, all of them have good character and they're all responsible citizens. We teach our children how to be terrific kids and we expect them all to earn Terrific Kid recognition sometime throughout the year and they do."
Peckford adds the wonderful part of the Kiwanis Terrific Kid program is that it is not limited to one or two children who can earn them.
"Every child who's a Terrific Kid will be recognized as a Terrific Kid. Like the banner says, in this school they all get recognized at some point throughout the year because we really do have a school full of terrific kids - they're amazing kids."
Time and time again, Peckford says when they take the students out for different community events and extra-curricular activities, she is called or a message is sent back from the people who facilitate the events.
"It could be people who are helping out with curling, or when they visit Whoop-Up or when they go to the Helen Schuler Centre. Wherever they go, I get phone calls back saying, 'your kids are amazing, they are just so well-mannered and considerate and well-behaved and responsible. And I think this program just helps to recognize these kids for demonstrating that type of behaviour." |
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