On a cold and icy Thursday morning, Sto-Rox students filed into the Jr./Sr. High school gym for a different kind of start to the school day. Instead of going to their usual homerooms to warm up, students from grades 9-12 were drafted onto teams - 20 in all - as part of the district’s new P.R.I.D.E. program.
But first, Michael Hauser, Special Assistant to the Superintendent, had a question.
“How many of you are proud?” he asked. Only a few hands shot up. For Hauser, it’s the notion of pride that he hopes this program will ignite in the student body.
DOWNLOAD: P.R.I.D.E. Flyer (PDF)
P.R.I.D.E. stands for People Rising In Determined Effort, and it is a performance awards program that offers cash rewards for the top five teams ranging from $500 to $5,000. The program grew out of an idea from Hauser and is made possible thanks to a $5,000 donation from him and an additional $5,000 in donations from the Sto-Rox Community.
Teams will earn points by achieving each of eight standards as outlined by the P.R.I.D.E. program:
• Academics
• Attendance
• Conduct
• School Engagement
• Community Engagement
• Personal Development
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Financial Literacy
“There is no one in these bleachers, on this floor, who does not have the capacity to be great,” he said. “f you shine, if you reach and work just a little bit harder…you’ll look back at the last few weeks and say that was good stuff.”
With that, Jr./Sr. High School Principal Asia Davis started the draft, introducing the coaches - selected teachers, counselors, and staff members - and then announcing the students who are part of each team. Seniors will serve as team captains, working with the coaches to advise teams on how to share their awards. There will also be non-monetary team challenges and awards each month leading up to the end of the school year.
