Date: Fri 11-Jun-1999
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."