Mantua school district Superintendent Christina Trampe and the board of education presented eight district students with Stars of Character awards for September at the board’s Oct. 9 meeting, its first since the start of the school year.
The parents of two students who won, the first and fourth graders, did not wish for their children to be published. The other students are sixth grader Emma Pizzo, fifth grader Koriann Sorey, third grader Samantha Mullen, second grader Rosie Sanchez, kindergartner Cecilia Rose Correa and pre-kindergartner Hannah Meagher. All were accompanied by their parents and families.
The district has about 1,300 students, according to its website. The eight ‘Stars’ were chosen by their teachers for the awards – first introduced last year – and given to students who best represent a particular virtue each month.
“Last year, we began a prize initiative, an award for one student per grade level per month that best demonstrates a character education virtue,” said Trampe. “It’s only one preschooler, one kindergartner – all the way up through sixth grade.”
The winners came from each of the district’s three elementary schools: Sewell (pre-k and kindergarten, Centre City School (first through third) and J. Mason Tomlin (fourth through sixth). Students can also win more than once; Soary is the first two-time winner, having earned an award in May.
This month’s concept was love, and the eight students this month were those who best exemplified that. Brief summaries about the students were written by their teachers, who included what the winning students did to represent love and why they represented it so well.
Words used to describe each student were “kind,” “thoughtful” and those who go “out of their way” for others. The teachers also noted of the winners that they were “lucky to have them” as students.
The students each received a certificate and star student necklaces and bracelets. They also posed for pictures with Trampe, one each and then together.
The next board of ed meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 13, at Centre City.
