Twenty students at Sherman Elementary School received their certificates and sticker badges Monday as they were recognized during a special lunch for being a “Kid with Character.”

Fourth-grader Alicia Sierra was recognized for her outstanding behavior. “I feel good and want to encourage my other friends so they can sit on stage with me,” she said.

The Kids with Character program, launched at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, is devoted to promoting positive behavior in HISD elementary schools through a partnership between the HISD Police Department and Aramark Education. Each month, 10 students from each participating campus will be recognized for showing the traits of responsibility, fairness, citizenship, caring, honesty and respect in their schools.

On Monday, HISD Police Chief Robert Mock and other members of the police department came out to Sherman to congratulate the students and enjoy a lunch of chicken tenders, roasted sweet potatoes, spinach and diced peaches.

“I want to thank you for your good behavior, for listening to your teachers and following the rules in school,” Mock told the students. “This is a great program where we will recognize students for doing the right thing.”

Any teacher or school staff member  can nominate a student of character. Nominations are reviewed by the site coordinator who also ensures the student has had a positive attendance rate throughout the month.

“For 15 years Aramark Education has provided management of the food service program at HISD, serving healthy meals that fuel students’ academic day,” said Ray Danilowicz, Executive General Manager of Aramark Education/HISD Food Services. “This latest initiative is just one of the ways Aramark Education is committed to helping all students flourish.”

As part of the launch day, coordinators from the 20 participating schools received training and orientation. Roxana Garza, the site coordinator at Benbrook Elementary, said she was glad her school was taking part.

“We have ways we encourage good grades and attendance already in place and we hope this program will encourage good behavior,” Garza said.

Schools participating in the Kids with Character Program are Burbank, Browning, Benbrook, Isaacs, Briscoe, Alcott, Foster, Braeburn, Bonham, Briargrove, Sherman, Reynolds, Barrick, Janowski, Mitchell, Shearn, Red, Elrod, Young Learners, and Sinclair.

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