Fox Lane Middle School Encourages Students to CARE

“You have completed the first marking period of your seventh-grade year!” Fox Lane Middle School Assistant Principal Amanda Gerber said to a large group of students in the Suzanne Grant Theater.

FLMS celebrates the end of each quarter with grade-level CARE assemblies. These mini pep rallies commend students for all the hard work they’ve put in during the quarter while reinforcing the school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system, CARE, which stands for collaboration, appreciation, relationships and empathy.

To begin the first CARE assembly of the year, Gerber asked students to define the different words that make up the acronym.

“Collaboration is when you work together with your peers,” Sloane said.

“Appreciation is when you thank someone for helping you,” said Joseph.

“Relationships are when you and your friend have a positive connection,” said Luke.

“Empathy is when you put yourself in someone else’s shoes,” Gary said.

Gerber then gave out CARE Awards, which are given to the students who have embodied one of the words throughout the quarter. The group got a big round of applause before the assembly moved on to Principal Shout Outs.

“I get about 25 nominations every week and I choose one each Friday to share during the announcements,” Principal Mary Harrison said, explaining that she wants to make sure that each of the students nominated gets recognized for this important achievement. “This is the award for when you’re doing the right thing when you think no one is watching.”

Next up were the attendance awards.

“You guys have done exceptionally well with attendance,” Harrison, who has been stressing the importance of showing up, said. “As a whole school, we are at about 97 percent and that’s where the seventh grade is, too.”

Gerber reiterated Harrison’s sentiment, encouraging students to keep it up.

“The challenge is, unless you’re sick, keep coming in every day,” she said.

Before the assembly wrapped up, Dean Toni Racanelli grabbed the microphone to cheer students on some more.

“I have to tell you how excited I was to watch your eagerness as you waited to see who was next to get an award,” she said. “Every single person in here can earn one. I’m really proud of you.”