posted October 08, 2013
Greg Bellemare, Pre-Primary and Primary Director
References:
Interamericano’s Elementary level has had a couple of busy weeks recently. A great deal of our students went the extra mile in both academics and character, and they were recognized accordingly. This growing level of excellence between the younger student body is a great motivator to all our teachers and staff. Here are a few of the highlights of these past few weeks.
On Monday September 30th the K, 1st and 2nd grades had an honor assembly. Citizenship was the ceremony’s main topic of discussion. Mr. Bellemare talked to the group about what it meant to be a good citizen. One always chooses to follow the rules of a community, whether it is your country, the school or the classroom, and others will most certainly reward you for you care and compassion. If everyone were a good citizen, then we would have a much better place to live and learn.
Taking pride in being a citizen is also equally important. When you take pride then you ask the best of yourself and others, and there is truly nothing more gratifying than that. You want what is good for everyone. The example used during the assembly was: if you are walking around and you see a piece of is paper on the ground, you have one of two choices, either you walk away and do nothing, or you pick it up. The second option is clearly the best, for everyone around you will benefit from your choice and therefore make you a better citizen.
During this ceremony the Guatemalan flag was brought in by Ana Sofia Lizarraga, the United States flag by Katia Oliveros and flag of Colegio Interamericano was brought in by Juan Miguel Muñoz. The Pledge of Allegiance was wonderfully led by Raúl Morales.
Students presented certificates for outstanding citizenship were:
| Kinder |
| Sebastián Torres Parada; Giselle Herrera Castillo; Adriana Sofía Marroquín Coronado; Alejandro López Kelly; Camila Guerra Romero |
| Grade 1 |
| Valentina Rubio Herrera; Andrés Argueta Chacón; Krista Poech Braham; Maripaz Rubio Cacacho; Maria Dema Ayastuy |
| Grade 2 |
| Astrid Cojulún de Paz; Frida Remis Duarte; Leah Ramírez García; Militza Roksanda Soto García; Gabriel Anguiano Melville. |
Prekinder students were visited the following day by Mr. Bellemare, who presented excelling citizenship certificates to: Diego Tanaka Sverzut, Javier Flores Barillas, Samir Ziad Jweiles Baldizón, Jeon Won Park, and Sofía Maria Morales Juarez.
On October 7, another assembly was held for Grades 3 -5. It started with the entrance of the flags. Aldana Torrico led the way, carrying the Guatemalan flag, followed by Ana Isabel Herrera bringing in the United States flag, and finishing with Cristina Markarian holding the Colegio Interamericano flag. All sang the National Anthem, and then Marco Vleeming led the pledge of allegiance.
Announcements were then given by Mr. Bellemare. These included:
Reminding students about the coveted Grizzly Award. A prized trophy, held by the group that behaved best in a previous assembly.
Asking students to take report cards home on Friday, October 11. Parents will want to make sure they get them so, if need be, they can meet with teachers on Monday the 14th for parent teacher conferences. Mr Bellemare suggested that students should look at their report cards, analyze them and make a plan for improvement. The idea is, no matter what students do in life, they need to make plans and set goals. This allows students to reevaluate them on a later date, and see if you were successful in keeping with their plans and consider what adjustments are necessary to carry out said goals.
Finally, Mr. Bellemare invited all grades to the school´s Fall 2013 Book Fair, starting October 9 and ending on Thursday 11, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Students may go to the library during recess to look over the wide and diverse selection of books we have this year. Each class will have a chance to go and explore what the fair has to offer. To purchase a book, students take home order forms so they, together with their parents, may go over the catalog and bring the order form filled out the next day.
Mr. Bellemare then proceeded to explain the importance of reading. If you have trouble reading, he suggests the best solution is making reading a habit. “It is like a muscle” Mr Bellemare explained, “If you make the brain work, then it will get stronger and better. But if you only play video games then the only things that get stronger are your thumbs”.
As a final point, Responsibility was announced as the next aspect of our school’s values program. Student’s goal is to become more and more responsible in your own schooling and less reliant on parents. After this, Mr. Bellemare congratulated Maria Inés Rodas, from 5th grade, for placing 2nd in a regional archery contest.
An added bonus to this week’s assembly came from two 5th grade sections. Led by Mrs. Rebecca Kramer, the fifth graders sang the “the Adams Family” theme song, for all the student body to hear. Their performance was received with a huge round of applause and cheers from everyone present.
This concluded the ceremony and led way to a new and exciting school week.