Washington Primary School Principal Michelle Richards and her colleagues are continually reinforcing the Washington Way for good behavior, hard work, cooperation with others and respect all the way around. A monthly awards program contributes to the initiative.
Washington students are energetic, that’s for sure. Students disembark their bus each morning and make a beeline for the front doors of the school. They greet Dr. Richards along with teachers and support staff members along the way as they head down the hall to their respective room.
Washington students have shown an almost mythical degree of loyalty to the school since it opened in September 1954. They simply love the place and retain fond memories of school long after they move on with their lives.
This week, Dr. Richards presented awards to a large group of students who were cited for their exceptional efforts throughout October. The honorees were announced over the building’s public address system. One by one they walked down to the main lobby and were given a handsome certificate. The group then posed for a commemorative photo with each other.
The honorees included Christopher Guy, Jessica Lizama, Grethel Galeas Mateo Tolentino, Eric Flores-Guardado, Mia Affa, Emilia Whitelaw, Riley Mohlenhoff, Joshua Flores Gonzalez, Avery Wildt, Aiden Chavez Merlos, Levi Vasquez Zavala, Grayson Fiore, Josue Chavez Gonzalez, Davante Booker, Melanie Pin, Edra Garcia Reyes, Charlotte LaMendolia and Dana Martinez Alfaro.
“These students represented the Washington Way in their school work and civic responsibilities to the school community,” Dr. Richards said. “We are extremely proud of how the students work hard to be role models for their peers and other students throughout the school.”
The entire classes of teachers Nicole Monte, Melissa Studdert and Vanessa Ulloa were recognized as October’s Blue Ticket Award honorees.
Here’s how the Washington Ways program works:
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.
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.