Sawtooth Elementary School much loved volunteer David Hahn was honored at an endof the-school-year awards ceremony on June 6. He has devoted many hours to the students, helping out the staff and delighting children with creative techniques that foster enthusiasm and learning.
“Students – I don’t know if you know: there is no school tomorrow!” Those were Sawtooth Elementary Principal Gwen Carman’s words at the beginning of the school’s annual awards and fifth grade graduation ceremony on June 6. She had the end of the school year in mind, asking, “When will the alphabet have 24 letters? …When ‘U’ and ‘I’ are gone!”
Recognized were student council members, recipients of the school’s citizenship awards, and those who earned presidential physical fitness awards for exercises including sit ups, pull ups, and the mile run. Also recognized were kids with perfect and nearly perfect attendance over the course of this year’s 170 school days. “School attendance is essential to school success,” Carman said.
Principal Carman commended the Passport Program that takes students around the county to explore local history. “It’s a very important part of our curriculum,” she said. “I really want to thank the Cook County Historical Society.”
Carman gave volunteer David Hahn, a.k.a. Grandpa David, special recognition for all his volunteer work at the school, presenting him with a school T-shirt. He thanked the kids, saying they were the best kids in…and all the kids yelled out, “America!”
Getting kids geared up for a healthy summer was teacher K.B. O’Neill, reminding students to practice seven healthy habits: reading, exercising, eating healthy foods, drinking enough water, practicing math, limiting screen time, and helping others. She sent home a log for kids to fill out as they practice the seven healthy habits over the summer. This year it has an extra category: “other,” inspired by this year’s second graders. She commended student Keyra Crow with coming up with a long list of other ways to practice healthy living.
O’Neill shared two pieces of healthy advice she had heard from students: One was from Molly LaVigne, who said it doesn’t matter how old you are, you can still practice healthy habits. Another student, a second grader, said, “You have to take care of your feelings.”
The kids ended the school year reciting a motto: “The choices you make today shape your world tomorrow.”
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