By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Rebecca Whitmer, Wilson fourth-grade teacher, nominated her student Brandon Dague for the January Best of the Best Award because of his kindness to his fellow students.

Whitmer focuses on one positive character trait each month. On Mondays Whitmer presents the students a quote about that trait. On Tuesdays, the students set goals around the trait. On Wednesdays, they read aloud pieces that have that trait as the theme. On Thursdays, they have class discussion, and, on Fridays, the students do shout-outs to students and staff who exhibit that trait.

During the month of December, the class’s trait was kindness.

Dague‘s goal for the week was to write students in his class positive notes. On his own time, he wrote personalized, uplifting notes to his classmates. He came in early the next morning and delivered the notes.

He revised his goal and decided to write everyone in the class positive notes. He wrote another round of notes that night.

“As he was dispersing the notes on the desks, he brought one to me as well,” Whitmer said. “It put such a smile on my face and started my day on such a bright note.

“As I watched his classmates come in and go through their arrival procedures and they started reading theses notes, the smiles that I saw just meant so much and warmed my heart. Just being able to start the day off on that positive note because of Brandon was incredible.

“I think the best part was that he perpetuated that cycle of kindness we had been talking about, and some of the other students who had received the notes decided they were going to start to write kind notes to their classmates as well.”

Whitmer said she was happy to have Dague in her class this year. She emphasized the importance of a positive classroom.

“He is so friendly. He is very polite,” Whitmer said. “He will go above and beyond for anyone. He is someone who lifts people up. If we share success, he is the first person to congratulate them. If he sees someone sitting by themselves, he will go up and try to include them as well.”

Dague also works hard in school, she said.

“He comes to school ready to learn and do his best, gives his best effort and keeps pushing himself every day,”she said.

Mackenzie Flinn

Krysten Linenberger, Munjor Early Childhood Connections lead teacher, nominated Mackenzie Flinn, assistant teacher for the staff Best of the Best Award.

Linenberger said of Flinn, “She is always smiling when she comes in. She always stays calm when working with all kids, which is really hard with toddlers. She jumps in and does what is needed from helping kids one on one to taking over a group setting if I am needing to leave.

“She always asks if anything else is needed to be done. If I ask her to do anything, she does it quickly and with a smile on her face. She gets along with everyone in the classroom and makes the classroom run very smoothly.”