Students holding paper stars

The students at George Grant Mason Elementary are ready to take on the world after this morning's character trait read aloud. Persistence is the trait our young learners will focus on to round out the school year.

Fourth grade teacher Ms. Rota, who led the assembly, set the table by asking those gathered in the multipurpose room if anyone has ever been left out or tried something they didn’t succeed in doing at first.

Somersaults, the monkey bars and splits led the responses, but there was agreement among the students that they always try to give another shot to what they’ve failed at, even if they are angry or sad.

Once Rota transitioned to the morning read aloud, you could hear a pin drop as she read “All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything" by Annette Bay Pimentel. The students and adults gathered listened intently as they learned the true story of Jennifer Keelan, an eight year old activist whose participation in the 1990 Capitol Crawl influenced Congress to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“I’m not asking you to climb the capitol steps but I want you to keep trying, even if something is hard,” said Rota at the conclusion of the story, before adding, “reach for the stars.”

To remind them of Rota’s message and Keelan’s persistence, students will receive stars when teacher seeing them trying to accomplish something without giving up when thinks become difficult.

“Who can do it?’ Asked Rota. And even though it was only 8:45 in he morning, she was met with a resounding “me” and hands extended high in the air.

#persistence #persistent #persist