Winter ended with a banquet at Brown Elementary School. During the dog days of winter, when students can become stir crazy with weeks of indoor recess, Brown students were challenged to be “Winter Winners.”

Each week, every teacher, including building specialists, awarded Winter Winner awards to students. Students received awards for good behavior, academic achievement, showing respect and responsibility and other honors that teachers felt deserved recognition. In addition to receiving recognition in the classroom, Principal Matt Phillips made positive phone calls to the winner’s parents at home to let them know of the honor.   

Award winners were entered into a drawing for a catered dinner with their parents in the school library, given by Phillips. Eight students and their families attended the Winter Winner Award Banquet in early March. Students and parents were encouraged to dress nicely for the occasion. The tables were decorated with white tablecloths, floating candles and other items. The menu included salad, pasta and grape juice. After a toast, each student stood at the front of the room and Phillips read a paragraph about why he or she was chosen to receive awards. Family pictures taken at the end of the ceremony were framed and given to the child.