Citizen of the Month Program Emphasizes Positive Character Traits

Berkley Street School recently celebrated another year of its Citizen of the Month character education program with an end-of-year breakfast on June 9. The program highlights a character trait exemplified by the “citizens of the month” from October through June.

Lucia Danna, third grade teacher and coordinator, shared the origin of the program, “It was started  years ago when I was teaching in the middle school.  When I came to Berkley, I thought it was such a wonderful concept for the students.  So I changed a few things about the way it was and Mrs. Velechko [former principal] and I put what we have now in place.”

A committee comprised of teachers from various grade levels, specialists and a parent representative meets each month to review nominations made by the teachers of Berkley School. This year's members were: Mrs. Danna, Mrs. Martin, Ms. Petrone, Mrs. Scott, Ms. Stich and Ms. Streicher and the parent representative was Michelle Johnson.

They review the recommendations and decide which student on each grade level exemplifies that month’s character trait the best. That individual becomes the “citizen of the month”. There is one per grade level, and one morning a month these recipients are announced. Afterward, they are invited to the main office where they are given a certificate by Principal Patricia Aufiero. All other students who were nominated to the committee receive an “honorable mention” certificate.

The nine traits included in the program are: 

• October – Responsibility
• November – Honesty
• December - Caring /Compassion
• January – Patience
• February – Friendship
• March – Fairness
• April – Cooperation
• May – Commitment
• June- Persistence

At the end of each school year the committee hosts a breakfast for all of the citizens of the month and their families. All teachers, administrators, and Board of Education members are invited. Students receive a gift from the committee such as a small backpack with "Berkley Citizen of the Month" printed on it, pencils, a small magnet frame, buttons with the traits, a book, etc.

“I think [the Citizen of the Month program] is one way that we can teach the students to be good citizens,” commented Mrs. Danna.  “Hopefully they will carry on these traits out into the community.”