Jefferson Primary School students flooded the gymnasium one recent day to celebrate March Citizen of the Month Award recipients and congratulate one another for reading thousands of minutes during this year’s pick-a-reading partner program.
Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide said the latest batch of Citizen of the Month Award winners are a splendid group of boys and girls.
March Citizen of the Month Award recipients include:
Camila Aparicio-Saravia, Ali Brady, Julian Canales, Bladimir Cordova, Daniel Cruz, Matthew Cruz Perdomo, Raquel Guardado Flores, Imre Hollosi, Daniel Kasindorf, Olivia Koiyet, Anna Matarese, Alexa Mazure, Emma Mortensen, Ashlley Nova Ramirez, Kayvon Pittman, Allison Rodriguez, Matthew Rodriguez, Natalia Rodriguez and Gianna Smith.
The honorees received certificates and assembled in front of the stage for a photo with Ms. Capitulo-Saide. Naturally, they all wore smiles on their faces. The proud youngsters reveled in the applause provided by their classmates.
The monthly awards assembly is fun for everyone, but it also serves a very definite educational purpose. The school’s classroom teachers offer a brief anecdote that provides specific details testifying to the respectful, responsible and/or safe behaviors each honoree demonstrated throughout the month. The anecdote is read when the student’s name is announced at the assembly. Faculty members believe that highlighting specific examples supports and encourages such behaviors throughout the building, at home and in the community.
Jefferson School Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide with March's award winners.
One Jefferson student from each class is also recognized as Citizen of the Week for demonstrating respectful, responsible and safe behaviors. The honorees are announced every Friday during a “happy news” segment. Students receive a prize.
Pick-a-Reading Partner at Jefferson
The Jefferson School community participated in the pick-a-reading partner program throughout March. “We began on March 2, which is Dr. Seuss’s birthday,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said. “Our theme for our reading month was the Olympics. Students completed bronze, silver and gold reading logs and received certificates of accomplishment for logging their minutes read.”
Jefferson parents, district officials and an assorted of community members visited the school and were guest readers in classrooms. “They talked to our students about reading in their own lives and inspired the youngsters to pick up a book and read,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said.
During the recent school-wide Citizen of the Month Award assembly a group of kindergarten students sang an Olympic theme song. “A special thank you to our PARP committee, consisting of parents and teachers that planned throughout the past year to make our reading month a success,” Ms. Capitulo-Saide said.