Bayshore Elementary honored by Do The Right Thing Program
Last year, Bayshore Elementary School was named the “Do The Right Thing” Elementary School of the Year. This month, five Bayshore students were honored through the program.
The five Bayshore honorees were Kortney Williams, Zachary Holden, Eidaliz Rivera Suarez, Cole Parkes and Janeliz Kortright
“Do The Right Thing” is a program sponsored by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Humanitarian concern, honesty, integrity, positive decision-making and heroism are recognized with these awards, said Program Director John McGraw.
The goal of “Do The Right Thing” is to reinforce positive behavior among youth and to establish students as role models for their peers. He’s been involved with the program for several years and said the stories are inspiring.
“The stories continue,” McGraw said. “Kids are still making positive decisions and choices. They are showing a real concern for one another and I’ve seen that in the nominations. This is also at the community level. At school, they’ll sense something wrong with students and reach out and help kids. It’s amazing – there is a lot of goodness in our our community.”
Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott is a North Fort Myers community member, and said he is particularly proud of the local children.
“I respect the children of Bayshore Elementary for doing the right thing,” said Scott. “I appreciate them for setting the tone and I respect them for following a positive lead.”
Positive behavior is something that unfortunately doesn’t also make the news, he said, but something that is alive in this community and at Bayshore.
“Frankly, positive behavior is contagious,” he said. “And these awards affirm what the teachers and community leaders are teaching them, and the children are going out here and making the positive choices,” he continued.
“This is making them better citizens in our community – and thereby making our community a better place to be.”
He praised the staff of the school.
“I think the folks at Bayshore Elementary – the principal, administration and the staff – have done so much with this program to reward and recognize positive behavior,” he said.
“It was a great distinction to be the Elementary School Do The Right Thing of the Year last year,” said Principal Lynn Herrell. “It’s important to me because we need to recognize students who do the right thing even when no one is looking.
“The students like it because sometimes it is the quietest students; they don’t normally don’t draw attention to themselves, they go about their day,” she continued. “It’s good for a kid’s self esteem and for kids to have a role model.”
She asked teachers at the beginning of year to keep an eye out for nominees.
“Pay attention to students and get to know them, and let’s recognize kids in positive ways,” she said. “These kids are amazing. You never know how they will make a difference.
“Our motto here at Bayshore is Work Hard – Be kind. And these kids emulate that every day.”
Nominations for all the are students honored are as follows:
n Kortney Williams of North Fort Myers is a 5th grade student at Bayshore Elementary School.
Bayshore Elementary School Fifth Grade teacher James Guffey wrote in his nomination letter that “Kortney took in three baby squirrels after their mother was killed. She has a great love for animals. Her concern and caring for these baby squirrels is an inspiration.”
n Guffey also nominated Eidaliz Rivera Suarez of North Fort Myers, a 5th grader at Bayshore.
“Eidaliz volunteered to translate between English and Spanish language speakers today. She really ‘jumped’ at the opportunity to help. She is a fantastic young lady and is a leader in our classroom.
She makes me so proud when she models such a responsible and productive role for all of our fifth graders.”
n Cole Parkes of North Fort Myers is a 2nd grader at Bayshore Elementary School.
Second grade teacher Ginjer Fassold wrote: “I am nominating Cole Parkes for his overall caring and concern for other students. Cole had returned to the classroom after throwing away his breakfast trash, when he informed me that a student was huddled in the area where our classroom door opens and meets the wall. He was troubled and concerned by what he had seen and asked if she was O.K. I quickly went out the door to check on the student. She was not crying but seemed very upset. She was also cold to the touch and was shivering.
“I contacted the nurse immediately. Cole volunteered to escort the student to the nurses’ office. Cole asked me repeatedly throughout the day if I thought the student was going to be alright. I reassured him that she was with her parents and they would take great care of her. Cole is a very caring and loving young boy. He shows great citizenship on a daily basis. Cole is an all around thoughtful, considerate and helpful person. I hope that Cole will be one chosen to be recognized for the warm caring young man he is becoming.”
n Zachary Holden of Fort Myers is a 5th grade student at Bayshore Elementary School.
Bayshore Elementary School Speech Technician Lisa Coy wrote in her nomination letter that, “On Thursday, Sept. 10, we arrived at school to discover that we were experiencing a power outage. Along with lights, air conditioning, etc., the computers were also down.
“Since we serve a lot of students breakfast and they must enter their lunchroom number electronically, this was a bit of a problem. The line was long and the lunchroom staff had to write down all numbers by hand. Zachary was walking by on his way to class, saw what was going on and asked if he could help. When we told him that he most definitely could help – he not only jumped right in but stated that he first needed to let his teacher know where he was! Zachary was very helpful in assisting the students get their bags and go through the line in the dark. Zachary saw a need and was very willing to do the right thing and help out.”
n Janeliz Kortright of Cape Coral is a 3rd grader at Bayshore Elementary School.
Third grade teacher JoAnn McClean wrote her nomination letter.
“Janeliz helped a classmate that did not understand the directions for an assignment. This was completely unprompted by me. She could see that I was working with another student and could not assist at that time. Janeliz stopped what she was doing to help the student. She exercised great patience in showing him step-by-step how to complete the work. She also checked on his progress as he worked. This action by Janeliz went a long way in making this student feel like an accepted part of our classroom.”
Other area students that were honored are featured below.
n Javier Ramirez of Fort Myers is a 5th grade student at Villas Elementary School.
Villas Elementary School Speech Technician Natasha Sleeper nominated
Ramirez. She wrote in the nomination letter that, “during morning hall duty I witnessed Javier go up to another student and return to him money that had dropped out of his pocket.” Javier could have easily put the money in his pocket no one would have known, but he decided to do the right thing.”
n Kenny Lynch of Lehigh Acres is a 7th grader at Oak Hammock Middle School. Lynch was nominated by Oak Hammock Middle Resource Officer Cpl. Chris Lusk, who wrote in the nomination letter that, “Kenny found and immediately turned in a very expensive electronic device. His actions displayed honesty. Kenny is a very good student who is always finding ways to help his classmates and school.”
n McKayla Moss of Bonita Springs is a 6th grade student at Bonita Middle School.
Dr. Ruthie Lohmeyer, principal of Bonita Springs Middle School, nominated McKayla Moss. In the nomination letter we learned that
“McKayla found a ring and turned it in. McKayla did the right thing and we are very proud of her.”
n Zachary Minehart of Fort Myers is a 8th grader at Bonita Springs Middle School.
Bonita Springs Middle School Assistant Principal Bob Scallan wrote in the nomination letter that, “Zachary was in a position where he witnessed a serious safety concern. He demonstrated courage by telling a person in authority. As a result of his decision and actions, this safety concern was handled and no one got hurt.”
n Shannon Vinson of Lehigh Acres is an 8th grade student at Alva Middle School.
School Resource Officer Deputy Bill Patton wrote in the nomination letter that, “Shannon Vinson has sincere desire to help around his school. In particular Shannon has been cleaning up in the school cafeteria. Without being asked – he walks around picking up trash and wiping tables clean. He is a person with a giving heart.”
n Mikala Hingson of Fort Myers is a 6th grader at Alva Middle School.
Patton also nominated Hingson. “Mikala found a book bag that contained $25 in cash and expensive electronic devices that included a cellular telephone and iPod. Mikala without hesitation turned it in to the front office so that it could be returned to the owner. Mikala is definitely a role model for the students at our school.”
n Andrew Snarr of Lehigh Acres is a 7th grade student at Alva Middle School and Austin Snarr of Lehigh Acres is an 8th \grade student. Patton wrote of the boys, that a student at Alva Middle School lost their pet dog. “Brothers Andrew and Austin Snarr asked their parents if they could help their fellow student look for their lost dog. Their parents gave them permission and they were off participating in the search. They searched for days. Through it all they went above and beyond the call of duty because they knew their classmate was heart broken over her loss. They had to do everything in their power to somehow help.”
n Ashley DiCaprio of Lehigh Acres and Markie Sawyer of Fort Myers are 6th grade students at Alva Middle School.
Computer Applications teacher Mr. William Hagan wrote their nomination. “Ashley and Markie found a large amount of cash in my classroom. After searching for the owner of the cash they went to me, as their teacher, and turned the money in. It was later discovered that the money belonged to a student who was to use it to pay for the school lunch year.”
n Raven Grimm of Fort Myers is an 11th grade student at Cypress Lake High School.
Cypress Lake High School Social Studies Teacher Kelly Stutz wrote, “I would like to nominate Raven Grimm for the do the right thing award. This summer she witnessed a brutal attack by a pit bull terrier on a 5-year-old boy. She pulled the dog off the boy, which may have saved his life. The boy was badly injured and spent several weeks in the hospital recovering from his injuries. If it had not been for Raven’s quick and brave action, it is hard to say what might have happened to the small boy.”
n Harlea Rehard of Fort Myers is a 9th grade student at Cypress Lake High School.
Cypress Lake High School Assistant Principal Tara Meagher said, “Harlea found a purse in the restroom and immediately took it to the school administration. The purse was returned to the owner with both money and cellular telephone untouched.”
n Empress Jackson of Fort Myers is a 10th grade student at Cypress Lake High School.
Cypress Lake High School, Algebra and Intensive Mathematics Teacher Lisa Grabowski wrote in the Nomination Letter that “Empress has helped me from the first day of school without me even asking. She passes out papers and calculators daily without hesitation. She makes sure that all calculators come back in at the end of class everyday. She always has a positive attitude and always completes her assignments. She is a wonderful person and student. She always helps other students that need help.”
n Rachel Whitehead of Fort Myers Beach is a 10th grade student at Cypress Lake High School.
Cypress Lake High School Assistant Principal Shelly Thimlar wrote this in her letter. “Rachel is a great kid who helps out even when no one is looking. Among the many ways she helps out at school, she is especially concerned about how the school cafeteria looks. She takes it upon herself to often clean up after her classmates. In addition to her service at school she is polite, with a straight ‘A’ average, and is active in sports by participating on the soccer and softball teams.”
n Marques Twyman and Darelle Brownlee of Fort Myers are 12th grader students at Cypress Lake High School.
Cypress Lake High Resource Officer Cpl. Ranju George wrote about the two. “Marques and Darrelle found a very expensive flashlight at school (valued at $120). Without any hesitation they turned it in to me. Both Marques and Darrelle are good students with a great outlook towards life.”
n Christopher Camacho of Lehigh Acres is a 10th grade student at Lehigh Senior High School.
Lehigh Senior High School Resource Officer Cpl. Andrew Penny wrote in the nomination letter that, “every day during lunch Christopher gathers un-opened milk cartons from students whom do not drink their milk and plan to throw it away. Christopher moves throughout the school cafeteria and distributes these milk cartons to children who
do not get any milk or can not afford it. Christopher has shown himself to be a generous and compassionate young man that everyday chooses to do the right thing.”
“Do The Right Thing” partners law enforcement, local government, the business and Lee County educational community together in an effort to make a lasting positive impact on our community’s young adults, added McGraw. For information, call 477-1175.