Learning to put yourself out there

Though teachers held “Quiet Please” signs up throughout the Lawrence Middle School auditorium, it was difficult for the seventh- and eighth-grade students, excited by the first town hall meeting of this school year, to keep the noise down last Friday.

These meetings, held four times during the school year, are where the student body is acknowledged for their work in the classroom and extra curricular activities. Teachers and school officials are also recognized for their efforts in helping students become better people. Fifth- and sixth-graders had their town hall meeting in the afternoon.

The morning town hall meeting featured a video of the late Steve Jobs who gave a graduation speech at Stanford University. Jobs, the founder of Apple, recounted his humble beginnings from orphan to dropping out of college, but auditing the classes was what he was truly interested in.

Jobs’ story impressed eighth-grader Anthony Brites, who liked that though Jobs dropped out of college he took a course — Calligraphy — that he used to develop the fonts offered in his Apple computers. “I learned how to keep going and that you can’t stop,” said Brites, a cross-country runner.

The boys’ and girls’ soccer squad, the cross-country team, girls’ tennis and the football team were recognized for their successes. Teacher Tom Yasus earned a STAR (Student to Teacher Appreciation and Recognition) card from the students. Eighth-graders John Romero and Austin Brown and seventh-graders Xjama Ramos and Mauvet Arellano were the ROCK (Recognizing Outstanding Character in Kids) raffle winners for doing deeds that helped a fellow student.

Each month through the school year features a theme that students follow and the first three months of school included friendship and respect for September, empathy and communication last month and appreciating diversity this month. These themes are the basis of the Social, Emotional Learning programs that is part of the middle school’s character education plan.

Through that plan, students are taught how to handle their problems, to help others and build up their self-esteem. A point driven home by Assistant Principal Rina Beach, who emcees the town hall meetings, congratulated all the students who ran for student government. “It’s not easy to put yourself out there at this age,” she said.

To assist students who are having problems with a fellow student there is the Peer Mediation group. Trained students help to resolve conflicts that are created through friendships, bullying, teasing and rumors. Peer Mediation is one several activities or clubs students can be involved with, along art, computer, drama, Latin dance, Government organization, National Honor Society (if invited), Prelude, service learning and the student newspaper.

However, as noisy as the town hall meeting was, eighth-grader Jasmine Verma received a certificate of recognition for volunteering in a quiet environment. At Peninsula Public Library, she assisted with the children’s summer reading workshop. “I liked it, it felt calm in the library and I loved helping the children,” Verma said.