Breakfast recognizes  students who chose wisely

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Shepard High School dean of students Jacki Frederking holds an ornament given to students who earned an invitation to the breakfast celebrating their good grades and exemplary behavior. | Supplied Photo

Updated: March 1, 2012 8:01AM

In education, success can take many forms. Perhaps a student earns an appointment to a military academy or a state championship in speech — in other cases, however, the shape of accomplishment can pass unrecognized.

When students turn away from trouble and failure, work hard and start to discover their possibilities, educators rejoice, too. Shepard High School administrators recently celebrated those achievements by hosting a breakfast, which served as a reward, for more than 25 students who have turned a corner.

And for these teenagers the personal growth, improved grades and exemplary behavior represented a huge step toward becoming a success.

“We believe in you. We won’t give up on you,” principal Josh Barron told his students.

After eating, students offered insight into how they earned the invitation to breakfast.

Just like adults, some teenagers repeat the same mistakes before they learn. Dean of students Jacki Frederking recalled an example of a turnaround story.

“I have worked with one student since her freshman year, at which time she racked up nearly 20 referrals. Most of her disciplinary interaction was related to negative peer interactions and getting to class late,” said Frederking.

This student’s popularity interfered with her classwork and behavior.

“During her sophomore year, she participated in our Operation Snowball program. By changing her peer group, becoming more focused on her academics and accepting the support of her mother, she brought her disciplinary interaction to zero,” Frederking said.

This student currently earns honor roll grades. She will attend Snowball again this spring and hopes to serve as one of the student leaders in 2013. She sees Frederking on a regular basis, but for positive reasons like Snowball and the Shepard student ambassador program.

“She calls herself a work in progress. I call her a success,” Frederking said.

Teacher Justin Clark, who is working on his administrative certification in graduate school, helped plan the event. He and his wife, Katie, a social worker at Delta Learning Center in District 218, made ornaments with the words ‘Better Choices 2011’ for the students.

“I am fortunate to have the opportunity to fulfill the hours for my administrative internship with projects that are meaningful,” Clark said.