DECEMBER 8, 2023

When Elm Drive Elementary School Principal Alicia O’Connell started working in the district in fall of 2022, one of her goals was simple: to celebrate not only scholastic achievement but also excellent character.

"I wanted to make sure that we had the opportunity to acknowledge the whole student, not just grades," she said. "A student may show amazing compassion or honesty but not be at the top of their class. I wanted a chance to reward those who might not be noticed as often.”

Enter the Blue Ribbon Blazer Assembly: a monthly event that honors students at Elm who demonstrate positive qualities such as kindness, generosity and compassion.

O’Connell came up with the idea in September; by November 2022 the first assembly was scheduled and there has been one held every month since.

“I had a lot of cooperation from the faculty and staff,” she said. “Everyone really enjoyed the idea so it was pretty quick to mobilize.”

Blue Ribbon Blazer assemblies bring the entire school to the all-purpose room once a month to enjoy presentations, read-alouds, skits and an award ceremony to celebrate those students who demonstrate excellent character. Each month’s program focuses on a different positive quality ranging from empathy and kindness to cooperation, diversity and being a good listener. Students are awarded the title of “Blue Ribbon Blazer” after being nominated by faculty or staff members who witness them exhibiting the month’s theme.

“A lot of times these character traits are shown outside the classroom,” said O’Connell. “Kids have been nominated by everyone from all over the building. It’s important that a lunch monitor or the school nurse can see a student do something special and nominate them, too.”

Last month’s theme, “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully,” focused on having compassion for others. Among the group of honorees was kindergarten student Anthony Knapp, who received the honor after teacher Samantha Bopp noticed him being kind and inclusive with his classmates. He grinned widely as he reached out for his certificate.

“I felt happy because I was helpful to my friends and made other people feel better,” said Anthony. “That makes me feel good!”

"Anthony makes sure that no one is ever left out and he is mindful of the feelings of his classmates,” said Bopp. “I think the program is a fantastic way to engage students, making them active participants in their social emotional learning.”

The event became so popular at Elm Drive that Alden Place Elementary (Millbrook’s third through fifth grade elementary school building) made it a new tradition in 2023 as well. Principal Thomas Libka said that the school had a similar program before the COVID pandemic hit in 2020 that had fallen away by the time students returned to school in-person.

“We have been trying to figure out a new way to recognize kids for their kindness and positive personalities since COVID and Alicia O’Connell created a great model for us at Elm,” said Libka. “The kids love it and support each other so much with their clapping and cheering. There’s nothing like it.”

O’Connell said that the assemblies are not only a way of celebrating the students, but also create a positive and supportive culture in the school district. Students laugh as they enjoy “minute to win it” games and watch their teachers demonstrate both positive and not-so-positive interactions in skits that follow the month’s theme. They also come up with a shared goal at the end of the assembly, creating building-wide initiatives – like a giving tree – to reinforce the message even after the assembly has ended.

“We like to come up with a goal that we can use as a tool throughout the month," O'Connell said. "It’s so important because we get to see these traits in action and witness the importance of holding each other accountable.

“We're trying to achieve this goal together because we're a family at Millbrook, and that's what families do. The Blue Ribbon Blazer Assemblies are helping us to be the best family possible."

What do memos, envelopes and smiles have in common? They are all part of the mail delivery program at Millbrook Middle School, where students in Mary Kate Barnett’s classroom are continuing to deliver faculty and staff mail for the second year in a row.

The program, which started in November 2022, involves students delivering mail throughout the middle school twice a week. They pick up mail from the building’s main office, organizing it before making deliveries to each staff member.

Barnett's classroom serves students who have different learning needs and styles. It provides individualized instruction and support in all core subjects as well as opportunities for students to integrate with their peers during lunch, specials and adaptive physical education classes, aiming to prepare students for their post-secondary goals and foster confidence and independence.

Barnett explained that the mail delivery program is designed to help her students practice social and pre-vocational skills as well as provide them with opportunities to sort and categorize materials.

“It’s an idea that I developed while searching for new vocational activities for the class,” she said. “My students are focusing on transitional job practice for post-secondary goals in addition to their academic goals for the year, so this fits right in.”

Barnett said that though her students have different personalities and preferences, they both love delivering the mail.

“One of them is very social and often seeks out peer and staff interactions and cherishes the opportunity to connect in new ways,” she said. “Another really enjoys the independence of the task completion as well as the change of scenery and routine and the opportunity to be helpful. The program offers a great range of benefits.”

“It has also been an amazing opportunity to build some community among the staff we don't see every day!" she added.

Middle school faculty and staff certainly seem to agree. Barnett said that they have been receptive to the program and seem to relish the experience of having mail hand-delivered by the students, who always arrive with a smile.

"They always are kind and inclusive with my students and this has been no exception,” she said. “If they happen to be discussing a question with their classes when my students arrive, they often include them. If they’re giving their students lollipops, they share with them.

“One of the science teachers even allows my students to pet and feed the class turtle. It has been a great way for them to consistently be a presence in their lives.”

As predictable as delivering the mail might sound, Barnett explained that it is actually an ever-changing set of tasks that provides her students with a chance to gain practice in independent problem solving. From staff absences and substitute teachers to overflowing – or empty – mail bins, no two days are ever quite the same.

“It gives them endless opportunities to problem-solve in the moment, work through any disappointment or frustration and make a new plan to be successful," she said.

Barnett said that the mail delivery program’s second year has started out strong and she hopes to continue incorporating it into her class’s curriculum through the years.

"I'm very proud of my students and how they have adapted to this new responsibility," she said. "They are doing a great job and I hope they will inspire others with their enthusiasm and dedication."

Empathy in Action: SADD Club Emerges

at Millbrook High School

Passersby can’t help but smile while walking by room 207 at Millbrook High School on any given Tuesday afternoon. A flurry of conversation and laughter emanates from the room, punctuated by an occasional exclamation: “Wait, I have an idea!” A quick peek inside reveals a group of eager students enjoying snacks and sharing thoughts, notebooks and pencils in hand. 

Marjorie Gulenyan, Millbrook Central School District’s prevention counselor, smiles when asked what’s going on.

“It’s just the SADD club being themselves.”

Run by Gulenyan and high school science teacher Colette Alonge-Watz, SADD (short for Students Against Destructive Decisions) is a brand-new club at the high school that aims to help raise awareness about the importance of making good choices. Part of a national nonprofit organization that empowers and mobilizes students to engage in positive change through smart decision making, SADD at Millbrook follows the national mission – but also creates its own initiatives to address the school community’s specific needs and interests.

The club was established in October with the help of a small group of enthusiastic students who wanted to use it as a vehicle to effect change. It was a slow start; many students weren’t familiar with SADD and only a few initially showed an interest. Millbrook senior Emily Corbin, however, loved the club’s concept from the start and couldn’t wait to get involved.

“We’ve never had anything like SADD before, so I was curious about it and wanted to help,” said Emily, who is now the club’s president. “It ended up being a lot of fun with a great cause behind it.”

After a few meetings and a lot of word of mouth, the club now has 18 members and is still growing. Activities are in full swing; SADD has already hosted a number of campaigns and has plans to hold several (since you already said “a number of”)events on topics such as substance abuse, mental health and distracted driving this year. A recent campaign was World Kindness Day, when students wore pajamas to school and handed out “kindness candy grams” to spread smiles and encourage positive interactions.

SADD’s next campaign in December, the “Rock the Belt Fasten Show,” will feature club members sporting shirts with duct tape designs resembling seat belts to encourage others to buckle up during the holiday season – a time of year that Gulenyan said is one of the deadliest for drivers and passengers.

“One of the biggest causes of death in teens is not wearing a safety belt during a car accident,” said Gulenyan. “It’s also one of the most preventable, so raising awareness in this way is so effective.”

SADD members will also be hosting a table in the cafeteria that day, getting others in on the fun with tasty treats and a chance to “Rock the Belt” by wearing their own duct tape creations. Gulenyan said this event is characteristic of the way SADD works.

“It’s a memorable way to address something serious,” she said. “Kids remember things like this years later. It makes an impression.”

When asked to describe the group of SADD members, Gulenyan laughs. 

“Regardless of who knew each other beforehand, there is a ton of camaraderie,” she said. “They’ve all come together and created a sense of joy and laughter during meetings. It has a positive, fun vibe.”

Though Gulenyan said it’s easy to assume that SADD members are “picture perfect kids,” she is also quick to mention that they are just like any other student.

“Like all high school kids, they still have growing and learning to do,” she said. “They still like to go out and party – and of course they can! The difference is that they’ve committed to being a SADD representative, so they can enjoy parties but model good choices by not engaging in substance abuse or underage drinking.”

“In general, my view of SADD is that it gives students a voice to tackle what they perceive to be important issues,” she continued. “Being present for social events is a big deal because peer-to-peer engagement is the most effective influence on kids. Being there lets them use that voice to be great role models.”

The SADD club is always looking for more members! If you are interested in joining or would like to learn more about SADD, please email Marjorie Gulenyan at marjorie.gulenyan@millbrookcsd.org.