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Poland North honored again
By Elise Franco
Poland
Strong character and values among Poland North Elementary students have earned the school its second Core Essentials Award since 2007.
The program, run by Chick-fil-A restaurants, helps incorporate character education into young students’ classrooms.
Gail McCullough, Boardman Chick-fil-A operator, presented Poland North with a $500 check and a plaque Wednesday.
“Chick-fil-A’s goal is to assist teachers in communicating morals and character education to children, and Poland North Elementary consistently works hard to instill those values in their students,” McCullough said. “The Poland North Elementary School teachers work diligently to teach their students moral and scholastic lessons.”
Poland North was one of eight schools in the country to be recognized out of the 800 that participate in the program. Poland Union Elementary was honored in 2008, and Dobbins Elementary in Poland in 2009.
Principal Mike Masucci said it was a combination of community-service projects as well as “the little things,” that earned his school its second award.
“It indicates to me that this program that Chick-fil-A is running works,” he said. “It’s a constant reminder that you don’t always have to have the bells and whistles attached to everything.”
Masucci said he included in the school’s award application the story of two second-grade girls who formed a special relationship throughout the school year.
Kaylee Hrusovski jumped at the chance to become a student mentor to classmate Christin Murcko, who has Down syndrome, Masucci said.
“When Christin would spend time in her second-grade class, she would oftentimes need help,” he said. “It was Kaylee from the beginning of the year who raised her hand and said she wanted to help. It gave her a sense of responsibility that she’s helping someone.”
Masucci said the pair quickly formed a bond, as Kaylee spent much of her own class time helping Christin with assignments and encouraging her to think for herself. All the while, Kaylee never fell behind on her own school work.
“Christin walks in the room, and Kaylee is right next to her. They work beautifully together,” he said. “That’s the kind of thing that you hope rubs off on every student.”
Masucci said the students also wrote 300 letters to Marines stationed in Johnstown, Pa., and helped raise $14,000 this year for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The money was used to send one young girl to Disney World and gave a little boy the “ultimate swing set.”
He also noted that last summer many students opened up lemonade stands around their neighborhoods and donated the proceeds to charities.
“I think the participation has really demonstrated to them that the key components of this program are things they can take home with them,” Masucci said. “You like to think it carries over into things they do on their own.”