Larry Hart, principal of Lincoln Elementary School, had to contend with more BUGs than usual this week.
He was tickled pink to have the infestation.
BUG is an acronym for “bring up grades,” a program to encourage students in third, fourth and fifth grades to improve their academic standing and, once improved, to maintain it at a high level.
Maintenance of good grades is significant, Hart said. “Staying at a higher level is just as hard as getting there.”
Designation is not tied to a letter grade in any one subject. Students are recommended by their teachers who know better than anyone else who is concentrating on being a better student.
Thursday afternoon, John Shields and Larry Tucker, Iola Kiwanis Club representatives, gave certificates to 20 BUGs. The civic club also provided refreshments that the students will enjoy Tuesday during a get-together, when they also “will get another pat on the back for doing so well,” Hart said.
The BUG program isn’t new to the school.
“I’m in my 10th year (as principal) and the program was going on when I got here,” Hart said.
Iola’s Kiwanis Club became involved early last school year when “some of the members came in and said they wanted to do something to help our school,” Hart recalled, which led him to recommend they get involved with the BUG program.
“I think the incentive from the Kiwanis Club has made a difference,” Hart said. “The 20 students are the most at one time since I’ve been here.”
Hart said another student recognition, the Accelerated Reader program, also had unusually high numbers for the first semester.
“We had 23 fourth-graders and 23 fifth-graders who met their AR goals,” he said, which led to lunch with the principal on Friday for the fourth-graders and will for fifth-graders later. Also, those reaching their AR goals watched an original version of “Yogi Bear” cartoons and snacked on fudge bars and had a soft drink.
“The 46 in the two grades, which is over half of fourth- and fifth-graders, is the largest group we’ve ever had,” Hart said.
“A couple of years ago the numbers in the two higher grades had fallen off, probably because of bigger books and more things to do, and now that we’re giving the students some recognition, the numbers are improving,” Hart said.
THOSE EARNING BUG recognition were:
Third grade: Christian Floyd, Jill Keller, Kally Lieurance, Dalton Muntzert, Reid Smith, Taven Tavarez and Domonic Ramsey.
Fourth grade: Jaden Channel, Cole Regehr, Shaylee Baker, Kelleigh Collins, Tayton Driskel, Blake Haar, Jayden Jackson and Johnathan Miller.
Fifth grade: Blake Mittelmeier, Sam Terhune, Madison Carlin, Emilee Luedke and Danielle Mitchell.
Accelerated Reader top point earners:
Kindergarten through second grade: First place, Audrey Powe, 64.6 points; second place, Nathan Haston, 51.6 points; third place, Jack Adams, 45.6 points; fourth place, Kamri Hall, 44.3 points; fifth place, Ayemiah Donovan, 42.7 points; and fifth place, Alexis Gorjiyan, 42.7 points.
Grades third through fifth:
First place, Jon Miller, 104.4 points; second place, Hannah St. Clair, 100.3 points; third place, Macayla Bycroft, 98.2 points; fourth place, Mia Aronson, 88.3 points; and fifth place, Blake Haar, earning 86.3 points.
