Oct. 18, 2024: Here is how it works at Intermediate North. Students who exhibit each month's Character Trait of the Month (it's currently Respect for October), are nominated by their classroom teacher. These students earn a point, and entered into a monthly raffle for Papa John's pizza party.
But if an administrator catches a student exhibiting kindness? That's the big one. They receive a duck, worth three points, which is given to the homeroom teacher and which counts toward the class.
There is a winning class for each grade level monthly. And that means a visit from the Kindness King.
No one was quite aware of the Kindness King or his reign at the school when the winning classrooms for September were announced. So when Assistant Principal David Fanslau—donned in a cape and a custom-made crown—entered the room with a royal announcement, it was a pleasant surprise for students.
Surprising students is a key component to how Principal Lynn Fronzak and her admin team at Intermediate North reach their goals. Last year, to address attendance, the school unleashed The Beast.
"We've found that keeping students engaged, intrigued, and yeah-- a little bit surprised-- helps with buy-in," said Fronzak. "We also like to draw out that competitiveness that we all have within us, and when kids see other students and classrooms reaching incentives for attendance or kindness, they want in. 'I can do better do than that!' That's what we want."