Skills such as good attendance, completing homework, exceptional behavior and great manners are not always celebrated. At Bucyrus Elementary School, these skills are being celebrated through teacher nominations for the monthly Principal’s Lunch. From these nominees, a group of student is picked to receive special invitations for the lunch.
Bucyrus Elementary Associate Principal Tim Souder has definitely noticed the positive impact this new incentive has given students. “There are many students that have asked how they could get to eat with the principal. Other students have vocalized goals to eat with the principal.” The invited students meet with the principal during their normal lunchtime at a special table.
Marie Stuckman, the Elementary School Family Advocate for Bucyrus Elementary School, attends the lunches with Mr. Souder and has definitely recognized the sense of accomplishment among the invited students “It is very interesting to see the students’ reactions. They are proud to be there. We have asked them what their parents have said when they brought home the invitations and they are pretty proud too.”
At the lunch, students have the opportunity to get to know their principal in a positive setting. During conversation, students have asked Mr. Souder questions from “What is your favorite color?” to “How did you become a principal?” Mr. Souder uses the opportunity to discuss leadership and how important it is to not only do the right thing, but also help their classmates to do the same. Souder believes that this kind of program is important because “we want to make sure that we are balancing our schools discipline so that students understand that making good choices will lead to positive outcomes.”
For more information on the program, contact Marie Stuckman at mstuckman@bucyrusschools.org.