April PAWS winners honored

GRAVETTE -- "Pawsitive" and Wise Student winners of the month at Glenn Duffy Elementary School were honored at the monthly Rise and Shine assembly Monday, April 2. PAWS grade-level award winners for the month of April are Keeley Brown, Logan Hall, Clayton Hand, Elizabeth Nicholas, Palmer Pittman and Gage Rutledge. Many other Glenn Duffy Elementary students were recognized for classroom PAWS awards, Terrific Kids or Box Top awards. GDE students, staff and guests celebrated as students were recognized for class and individual awards.

The PAWS Program incorporates character education and positive behavior into the school community. Each month PAWS skills are chosen and discussed in classroom guidance in relation to character education. School staff members always watch for opportunities to encourage students for excellent character, behavior or effort.

The character word for April is accountability. This is defined as taking responsibility for something you have done or something you are supposed to do. Rafiki from Lion King says, "Maturity comes when you stop making excuses and start making changes."

Gravette Fire Chief Lonnie Mullen spoke with the students about accountability. He described how the fire department is accountable to help take care of people in emergencies. He shared how he is held accountable to see that firefighters are working while staying as safe as possible. Fire Chief Mullen also described how students can do their best to be accountable for their work at school and to their parents at home.

This month's social skill is accepting consequences. Steps to practice this skill include:

• take a deep breath and count to five;

• think about what is being said;

• say, "I'm sorry I made a bad choice," and say what should have been done; and

• follow directions for the consequence.

For more information about GDE school assemblies, refer to gravetteshcools.net/gde.