02 Jun 2006 - 18:16

character ed done right

What a great day.

Jimmy received a Marra Award from the high school today. That's him, shaking hands with Don Marra, for whom the award is named.

Don Marra taught at the high school for 30 years; he was assistant superintendent for part of that time. He was the shop teacher, and was beloved. Scott Mosenthal, the principal, said Don's nickname at the high school was "God."

Don told me he retired partly because NY state decided to drop industrial arts from the curriculum. (Boo)

The Marra Award is, esssentially, a character award. But nobody calls it that. Scott said the Marra Award is for great kids who show up and work hard. (paraphrasing): "It's not necessarily for the straight-A kids, but some of those kids are here, too. It's for the kids who make your day when you see them." Every department and program gives Marra Awards to students they choose.

After he was finished with the Marra Awards, Scott handed out awards for perfect attendance. (Jimmy got one of those, too — no seizures this year!) Scott said, "I go to principals conferences, and nobody gives these things out. Nobody has perfect attendance. I don't know what that means, but I think it means we're doing something right around here."

The place was packed with parents and kids. After all the awards were distributed, Scott delivered an old-fashioned pep talk.

He said, "Kids, thank your parents. They're the ones who got you here, who loved you and supported you and picked you up when you were down and pointed you in the right direction."

"I've visited most of the schools in Westchester, and I'll put our students up against anyone. They're the best.Our parents, too. We're successful because we have the best group of parents in the county."



Wow.

I know that the person at the top sets the tone, but you have to see it to really get it. There's no b*s in a high school awards ceremony. The kids are the best, the parents are the best, the school is the best - and that's that. No 11 Principles of Character, no "everyone's gifted in his own way," no bell curves drawn on the blackboard to explain to all the kids that they're average, and they should be happy to get Cs.

Just straight-out, old-fashioned boosterism and team spirt.

Looking forward to 9th grade.





If I were moving, and had to choose a new school district, I'd look for the district with perfect attendance awards.


-- CatherineJohnson - 02 Jun 2006

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Congratulations, Jimmy!

He is a really big kid! I had no idea. He's got to be well over 6 feet.

-- CarolynJohnston - 03 Jun 2006

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Congratulations too, to Jimmy and you.

-- TracyW - 05 Jun 2006