Meadowlark students earned bicycles to piggy banks at Awards Day

Meadowlark Elementary Principal Jon Martin gave the signal for the assembled students to quiet down, but there was still a thrum of excitement on the last day of school. It was Awards Day and students would be recognized for superior school attendance, completing an online course to learn about managing money, being good citizens and reading achievements. Sixth graders, who would be moving on to junior high next fall, got a sendoff from their fellow students with a song, cheers and high-fives.

Much of the excitement was about who would win the attendance awards. Principal Martin told how difficult it was to have a perfect attendance record, admitting even he had to take a couple of sick days this year. Sweet Medical Center, recognizing that not all students could have a perfect record, gave certificates for ice cream at The Creamery to every student who missed less than three days during the year. It was a large and impressive group.

Then the 10 students with perfect attendance for the year, were called forward as the American Garage crew rolled 10 new bicycles, chosen for each student, down to the front of the gym. There were screams and cheers from the recipients as well as from the audience. Scott and Heather Depriest, owners of American Garage, started the attendance award program two years ago when several bicycle were also awarded. Heather told the students it was impressive that the 10 came to school every day and were never late, for the 173 days of school. She noted, "The program is so successful we will continue it again next year and I hope we have to buy a lot more bicycles."

As an aside, Heather said that as late as one month ago she and Scott were planning on buying at least 16 bicycles based on perfect attendance records presented by the school. She added, "I don't know what happened, but some kids began to miss school, for whatever reasons, and missed out on a new bike." Of the 10 winners this year, three had perfect attendance last year so this was their second bicycle. Of the 10 winners, there were three sets of siblings who each won a bike.

I interviewed Jeni Mord, a 4th grader who also won a bike last year. Asked what was the biggest challenge to making it to school every day, she said, "Not catching anything my sisters bring home from school." As to how she would use two bicycles, she said, "Now I have a bike at home out in the country and one here when we are staying in town."

Twenty-six fifth graders received piggy banks for their successful completion of an online 'money management' class designed for kids. Craig Lowham, First Bank of Montana Branch President in Chinook, presented the banks. Lowham said there were online, interactive money management courses for all ages available through the bank and at no charge. The courses can be accessed through the bank's website.

After a number of other awards, it was time for students to head back to classrooms for the rest of the last day of school for the year. To honor the sixth graders who were moving on to junior high in the fall, the rest of the teachers, staff and students lined the halls to sing some school fight songs, give the sixth graders high fives and cheer them on. It was a great ending to a great school year.