Students brainstorm
ideas for good
behavior rewards.
Enka Intermediate School Students Have A Voice
By Tim Reaves, Digital Communications Specialist
Enka Intermediate School’s excellent counselors create a nurturing
environment where students can be leaders.
School counselors Wendy Cuellar and Jody Montrie developed leadership
opportunities by identifying areas of school life where student input would
be helpful. So they created a Student Leadership Team, a Safety Patrol, a
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) team, and more.
“We want to build a sense of community where we all take care of each
other,” said Ms. Montrie, the sixth-grade counselor. “It’s all about empathy,
integrity, and self-control. That creates a family environment where we
can all learn.”
Ms. Montrie and a group of
students gather around a wall
that promotes empathy and
understanding.
“To make the kids feel more at home, we decided the answer was to give
them a voice,” said Ms. Cuellar, the fifth-grade counselor.
Cyleigh Sprouse, a fifth-grader, is part of the PBIS team, which provides
input about school-wide incentives and school behavior expectations.
“I like to come up with ideas for fun things to do,” she said. “I just like to
be a part of things, and I want to make sure everyone is included.”
Students engage in fun activities
at Enka Intermediate’s Media
Center.
Students take an active role in the school’s 41 clubs. They help organize hot chocolate sales, talent shows,
and other fundraisers. The Peer Review Committee gives students buy-in and a chance to brainstorm about
policies, Montrie said. These opportunities make school more exciting for students and create a sense of
community.
“I’m already seeing great ideas from them, because they
have their own ideas and perspectives that are instructive
to us as adults,” said principal Carleene Finger.
Enka Intermediate School
6
“Having kids involved in the committee gives them a
chance to notice what needs improvement and helps
them focus on meeting the need,” Cuellar said. “We
want to hear from them so we can be more supportive
and inclusive.”