Clinton gives ‘Role Model’ students day in spotlight

Seventy-four Clinton Elementary School students on Monday received a literal red carpet treatment.

It wasn’t because they are moving on from the school – many have a couple years before that happens. It wasn’t for acing a test, though surely many of them did. 

Clinton on Monday celebrated students for displaying, through the course of the year, qualities and behaviors making them role models.

“We don’t shed enough light on our children who do the right thing,” Christina Peterson, the school’s behavior intervention specialist, explained. “Who, we don’t have to talk to multiple times, show up to school with a positive attitude, who are nice to their friends, who are respectful, who responsible, who are safe, follows our Clinton rules.”

The school’s Role Model program and Monday’s inaugural Role Model Awards Assembly was the product of that conversation.

To earn Clinton Role Model status, a student had to give full effort in all classes – including special area classes – have a kind and respectful attitude toward adults and classmates and they could not have had a visit to the front office for disciplinary issues through the course of the year.

The 74 who achieved that represents 27% of all Clinton’s scholars.

“We beam with pride for that percentage,” Principal Dr. David Scott said, adding the school looks “forward to working with our scholars and families next year to increase the percentage of scholars who reach that status.”

Previously, on June 1, those Role Models were rewarded with a trip to Legoland New York in Goshen. In all, 94 students attended the trip, as the class that had the most days this year with 100% homework submission was also invited. 

The awards ceremony had a Hollywood theme, treating each student like a star. Attendees entered the cafetorium through a corridor that included students’ photos holding awards and a floor filled with Hollywood Walk of Fame-style stars on the floor. Inside, there were multiple setups for red carper-style photo booths.

Scott, Superintendent of Schools Gregory Mott and Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers each welcomed parents, thanking them for their ongoing involvement with the school and serving as a role model for their children to emulate. Then, the attention turned to the scholars.

Each student received a certificate and token recognizing their achievement. For each, Assistant Principal Da Vetta Price read off a sentence explaining how that individual student showed the characteristics of a role model. Four students – one from each grade level and from the school’s students with exceptionalities – chosen by the Clinton’s special areas teachers also earned medals.

One role model “tries her best in everything she does and is always willing to help others. Another “is a hard worker who consistency pushes herself to do her best and is always willing to lend a helping hand to a friend in need,” and one “is known for being kind, respectful and helpful to those around him.”

Afterward, the families celebrated with cake, cookies, drinks and photos.

“We just wanted to do something super, super special for them,” Peterson said of the honorees, “so that they can feel like superstars – so that they can feel like the role models that they are.”