New pride-a-gram program starts
San Benito High School Principal Krystal Lomanto has implemented
a new program called the Baler Pride-a-Gram. SBHS has a large
student body of more than 3,000 students and good work can
sometimes be overlooked.
New pride-a-gram program starts
San Benito High School Principal Krystal Lomanto has implemented a new program called the Baler Pride-a-Gram. SBHS has a large student body of more than 3,000 students and good work can sometimes be overlooked.
Lomanto said she hopes to make a positive connection with families and students by sending home cards praising students’ good work every grading period.
“The goal is to make connections with families about their student,” Lomanto said. “Recognizing students for doing a good job is important and any way we can do that as a staff is important. We are a large high school and want to make sure we recognize our students [and] parents for a job well-done.”
When Lomanto herself was a teacher at SBHS, the school sent out Pride-a-Grams.
“I thought it would be great to bring back an awesome idea,” Lomanto said. “I presented the information to our staff and they, too, thought it was a great idea to bring back.”
This idea was born to ensure that all students are acknowledged for their hard work. Each teacher is given five Pride-a-Grams (or more, if requested) to fill out and dedicate to their most deserving or most improved students every grading period. The Pride-a-Grams are then sent to Lomanto’s office to be mailed out to the students’ home. Lomanto said she “hopes parents and students will be pleasantly surprised to receive the Baler Pride-a-Gram at home.”
English teacher Tom Rooth said he agrees with Lomanto.
“It’s a way for teachers to make a connection with families in a way that it only takes a little time but makes a big impact,” he said.
In addition to the Baler Pride-a-Gram program, members of MEChA, a student club on campus, will also be acknowledging good students by sponsoring a Baler Code recognition every month.
“Each month one of the characteristics from the Baler Code will be the focus,” Lomanto said. “Teachers will select four students each month who modeled that characteristic. The names will go in a drawing each month for prizes.”
The Baler Code calls on students to be “respectful, responsible, honest, civil, tolerant, caring, courteous and courageous.”
