Award gives BRAGing rights
Carroll School Board hears about CES award program
By Jennifer Archibald

Carroll Elementary School is reenforcing positive behavior in its students by giving a weekly BRAG Award.

Assistant principal Natalie McQuade explained the new program at the Carroll School Board meeting Dec. 5.

She said the letters in the word BRAG stand for behavior, respect, attitude, and grades. Each week staff members nominate students who deserve recognition in one or more of those areas.

“We get about 300 nominations a week,” McQuade said.

There is a ballot box in the school office, and McQuade said one name is drawn out every Friday for the award. The winning student’s picture is placed on the bulletin board outside the office.

McQuade said the winner receives a certificate and a traveling trophy to keep in his or her classroom for a week. The student then presents the trophy to the next winner.

Five BRAG award winners have been named so far. McQuade said there will be a surprise at the end of the nine weeks for all the winners.

Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School assistant principal Fred Schnarr, who is certified as a school safety specialist, reported meeting recently with Flora Police Chief Paul Redmon in regard to security of the buildings. Schnarr said the schools now have fire and tornado drills, but more practices will be scheduled for what to do in case of other emergencies.

Schnarr also reported that a record number of tickets were sold for this year’s Cougar Blues’ Feast.

Superintendent John Sayers announced five resignations: Scott Ayres as athletic director, effective Dec. 31, 2006; Jana Anderson as junior high girls’ basketball coach, Juanita Wiseman as food service employee; Monica Sitzes as remediation aide; and Matt Stump as bus aide.

The following personnel were hired: Celsie Myers, Title I aide;

Deena Benefiel, Primetime assistant; Tina Fewell, remediation aide; Joan Johnson, bus aide.

Coaches hired were: Robert McLaughlin, junior high swim coach; Michelle Strawcutter, junior high assistant swim coach; Tom Hedde, seventh grade girls’ basketball coach; Rick Eller, eighth grade girls’ basketball coach.

Other coaches named were: Sarina Herron, volunteer cheerleading assistant coach; Sarah Hanaway, volunteer assistant junior high swim coach; Phil Benson, volunteer assistant high school baseball coach; Lisa Nesbitt, volunteer assistant seventh grade girls’ basketball coach.

Sayers presented the proposed school calendar for 2007-2008. He pointed out a built-in snow day for Good Friday, March 21, 2008. The calendar is posted on the corporation web site. The final calendar will be approved at the next board meeting.

The board authorized the advertisement of bus bids. The following conference and field trip requests were approved:

v Peggy Suhre to take the Honor Choir to perform at the Flora Presbyterian Church Dec. 14.

v Amy Hickson and Jeff Hodson to attend the Crisis Prevention Institute/Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training Conference Jan. 9 and 17 in Logansport.

v Kathy Shuler to attend the Increasing Your Effectiveness as a Reading Specialist Conference Jan. 16 in Indianapolis.

v Joe Spence to attend the Indiana Music Educators Conference Jan. 18-20 in Indianapolis.

v Mike Miller to attend the Core 40 End of Course Assessment Review Jan. 23 in Indianapolis.

v Jenelle Gish and Peggy Suhre to take the fourth grade class to the Long Center in Lafayette Feb. 9.

Sayers announced that a presentation on Carroll’s ISTEP results will be given at the next regular board meeting. That meeting will be Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Administration Building.