Washington Primary School Principal Michelle Richards was excited to read off the names of November’s Washington Ways Award winners. Once each young heard their name ring out over the building’s public address system, recipients headed down to the main office to receive a certificate commemorating their achievement.
The Washington Ways initiative focuses on recognizing and rewarding positive behavior while encouraging students to be safe, respectful and responsible.
Washington School third grader Zackary Smith sure is a proud award recipient.
Students are given various colored tickets by teachers and support staff members for exemplary behavior. The tickets can be presented to the youngsters throughout the day.
November’s “red ticket” honorees include Anna O’Neill, Shira Bennett, Kimberly Cordova Benitez, Kenneth Samayoa, Violet Beatty, Readeyn Gunnarson, Dylan Portillo-Diaz, Jason Constanza, Glendi Miranda Raymundo, Gabriella Zielinski, Khloe Bedell, Ethan Martin, Zackary Smith, Annabel Cassatto, Mason Ubriaco, Cesar Lovo Rodriquez and Helena Sullivan.
“All of us are very proud of these boys and girls,” Dr. Richards said. “They have set a wonderful example for their classmates.”
The entire classes of Katie Kalkau/Tina Balducci and Kristen Thatcher were also recognized as the “blue ticket” award winners for their outstanding collective efforts.
White tickets are awarded weekly for good behaviors and actions in the classroom. White ticket winners are honored with special recognition in their classroom at the end of each week and their names are announced every Monday morning.
Red tickets are presented to individuals for notable good behavior outside of classrooms, including in hallways, buses, the playground and cafeteria, etc. At the end of the month, the student in each class with the greatest number of red tickets is recognized with a special certificate. Dr. Richards announces the names of the honorees over Washington’s public address system.
Entire classes can earn blue tickets for positive group behavior out-of-the-classroom. Blue tickets are also awarded to the two classes within the building with the most tickets overall. The new program has quickly caught on and students enjoy being cited and collecting the colorful tickets.