Date: Fri 11-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JEFF

Quick Words:

Rodrigues-award-HOM

Full Text:

HOM Honors Rodrigues Award Winners

(with photo)

BY JEFF WHITE

Four members of Head O' Meadow's fifth grade class have been honored for their

outstanding citizenship with the 10th annual Edgar Rodrigues award.

Jeffrey Lipnick, Andrea Hoyt, Colin O'Connor, and Christopher Giorno were

surprised when their names were called to receive the award during the fifth

grade's class dinner on Tuesday, June 1.

"At first we had no idea that there was even an award for this," said Andrea.

That is exactly why these four were recognized: the kindness and caring these

students show their classmates at Head O'Meadow is not motivated by

recognition or awards; it is simply a reflection of their own personalities.

According to fifth grade teacher Phil Cruz, the Rodrigues award recognizes

students who demonstrate outstanding school citizenship in how they relate to

other students, how they help teachers, and how they serve the school.

All four students agreed on some basic characteristics of school citizenship,

like sticking up for others, for example, or volunteering to take an injured

student to the nurse.

For Jeffrey Lipnick, of 22 Valley View Road and a member of Mr Cruz's fifth

grade section, it's about getting along with other classmates. "When you're

working in groups, you need to work together," he said.

Andrea Hoyt, of 7 Drummer's Lane and a member of John Hull's fifth grade

section, echoed this sentiment. "As soon as I get off the bus I just try to be

nice to people.

For Colin O'Connor, of 23 Valley View Road and a member of Patricia Marshall's

fifth grade class, school citizenship is about standing firm against bullies

and looking out for fellow classmates. "There's always a bully in class, but I

try and ignore him. If someone gets hurt [during recess], I try to help them."

"If one person is nice, it causes a chain reaction," Colin added. "So if one

person's nice, it could help others."

The Rodrigues award is named after former Head O' Meadow principal Edgar

Rodgriques, who held that position for 12 years, from 1977 until 1989. The

year he departed Head O' Meadow was the first year the award was bestowed on a

fifth grader.

The future class of 2004 will move to Queen Street next year, to start sixth

grade at the Middle School. While it will be a time of strange hallways and

new faces, this year's Rodrigues award winners have shown a commitment to

their classmates that could meet the challenge of a larger, more diverse

student body.

And like all good leaders, they impart advice to the students soon to take

their place.

"For those girls and boys coming [to fifth grade] next year, don't listen to

bullies," advised Christopher Giorno. "If people make fun of you, they're not

your friends, so don't become like them. Have a good attitude."