The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Meadowlark Elementary Principal Jon Martin gave the signal for the assembled students to quiet down, but there was still an undercurrent of excitement on the last day of school. It was Awards Day and students would be recognized for superior 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. Heather and Scott DePriest, owners of American Garage, started the attendance award program last year, when 10 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 if 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 at that time. She added, "I don't know what happened, but some kids had 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, maybe perfect attendance is a genetic thing.

Steve Edwards Photo

Sixth graders at Meadowlark Elementary are congratulated by fellow students after the conclusion of Awards Day on the last day of school. The sixth graders, who will move on to junior high next fall, were cheered, sung to and congratulated with high fives as they moved down the hall to their classrooms.

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 getting sick from catching something my sisters bring home from school." As to how she would use two bicycles, she explained, "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 a school fight song, gave the sixth graders high fives and cheered them on. It was a great ending to a great school year.