
Educators
across
the
Division
are
putting
virtual
twists
on
their
traditional
methods
for
motivating
and
rewarding
students.
In
Summer
Haury's
second
grade
class,
Ashland
Elementary
School
students
are
encouraged
to
exemplify
the
school's
values
to
earn
dojo
points,
which
can
be
redeemed
for
various
prizes.
These
include,
social
media
shout
outs,
DJ
for
the
day,
show
and
tell,
and
by
far
the
most
popular
-
lunch
bunch.
These
rewards
help
instill
a
sense
of
community
even
when
teachers
and
students
are
interacting
virtually.
Supportive,
organized,
attentive,
and
respectful
(SOAR)
is
part
of
the
school's
motto,
"Together
we
SOAR
Higher."
"SOAR
truly
embodies
the
teamwork
mindset
of
our
school
community
and
creates
unity
as
a
central
component
of
the
Ashland
Elementary
culture,"
shared
Haury.
Students
are
introduced
to
these
characteristics
from
the
first
day
of
school,
and
Haury
believes
this
has
helped
her
students
become
successful
both
academically
and
socially.
"I
feel
good
that
we
have
them.
Everyone
can
do
what's
right
at
Ashland,"
said
Aryan,
a
second-grade
student.
This
year,
Haury's
class
has
three
agreements:
be
present,
be
respectful,
and
be
prepared.
"These
class
agreements
embody
the
SOAR
characteristics
but
are
specific
to
our
class
family
in
the
virtual
environment,"
said
Haury.
Second
grade
student
Ariel
shared
that
her
favorite
dojo
reward
is
teaching
the
class
because
she
wants
to
be
a
teacher
when
she
grows
up.
Another
of
Haury's
students,
Jibriel
said,
"My
favorite
is
lunch
bunch
because
I
get
to
have
lunch
with
Ms
Haury."
"Our
students
have
continually
impressed
us
with
their
resilience
and
their
ability
to
adapt
to
the
never-ending
changes
thrust
upon
them,"
shared
Haury.
"Now,
more
than
ever,
people
need
to
show
how
powerful
grace
and
kindness
can
be.
To
my
students
and
their
families
(past
and
present),
you've
got
this,
and
I
will
be
here
every
step
of
the
way.
To
my
colleagues,
we
can
do
hard
things,
and,
we
are."