Taking the lead with good deeds

    The ABCs have a whole new meaning at Memorial Junior High School, where “community-oriented” students are going above and beyond when it comes to helping others.
    As part of the school’s Good Deeds program, several students — including seventh graders Joseph Hernandez and Brittany Khan, eighth grader Narchelle Philitas and ninth grader Anthony Leardo — are awarded with certificates of recognition for acts of kindness. “It good to be honest all the time,” Narchelle said. “It makes my conscious free from being guilty. I always want to be a role model for somebody.”
    Narchelle, 13, found $5 on the floor while sitting in class back in September. Instead of keeping the money, she immediately turned it into her teacher. Later, Narchelle searched for and requested that another student who found her cell phone be awarded a certificate in December. She also volunteered her time to clean paintbrushes and other supplies for the school’s art department last month. Those acts, according to school, were great examples of good deeds.
    “A lot of adults won’t return a dollar they found,” said Memorial Principal Anthony Mignella. “I have to commend these young men and women for returning it.” Mignella noted that Joseph, who found two wallets with money and turned them in, remained humble and did not even tell his father about what the principal called his “great acts.”
    When asked why he turned in the wallets, one of which contained almost $100, 12-year-old Joseph said he placed himself in the shoes of the wallets’ owners and realized it was important to do a good — and right — thing. “You should always think of others before thinking of yourself,” Joseph said.

    This year, 291 students — 140 in seventh grade alone — were awarded certificates in the Good Deeds program, which the school implemented last year. These students have participated in acts of kindness and displayed outstanding honesty and generosity toward their peers and school staff members. According to Assistant Principal John Squadrito, who spearheads the program, in most cases administrators nominate students for recognition. The students’ pictures were included in the school’s monthly newsletter and E-TV news announcements, and they were also recognized in letters to their parents.
    The program promotes a “culture of tolerance, respect and citizenship,” Squadrito said.  Through it, students have cleaned up the school’s office, brought homework to absent students and even shoveled snow, among other things. In addition to a number of other activities, 14-year-old certificate recipient Anthony volunteers his time to complete different classroom-related tasks for one of his teachers. For him, the experience is worthwhile because he can set a positive example for his younger sisters. “You have to do great things to help for the future and teach others what to do,” he said.  
    For 12-year-old Brittany, it’s all about performing small acts of kindness. “It is good to be nice,” she said. “My parents are proud of me.” In trying to make a difference, Brittany helped another student struggling with a fractured finger to reattach a book cover and later dropped off homework to a student who had had oral surgery. 
    Schools official said the program also recognizes staff members for being kind. The program, they said, allows participants to learn how to be good citizens. “What they learn is not only academic,” Squadrito said. “By doing good things, they gain a positive sense of themselves.”