AMHERST, N.Y. — An Amherst elementary school is getting state-wide attention. Smallwood Drive Elementary School students are building character and learning life skills through award-winning initiatives.
Smallwood is no stranger to winning these awards.
In fact, the school has won 'Promising Practices' four years in a row, and this year Smallwood has been named 'New York State School of Character.'
This makes Smallwood one of three schools in the state to get the award. The school also got this same award for the first time back in 2019. This is also the same year Smallwood became involved with the national organization called Character.org.
The organization is known for developing character and learning the importance of social and emotional health. The school has had several award-winning initiatives such as 'Power of a Puppet,' 'Mantra Mondays,' 'Use Your Voice,' 'Lending a Paw' and 'Our Community, Our Plan.' The entire school is proud of their students and accomplishments.
"While the awards and the recognition kind of helps us to stay focus, it's really the outcome we see in the kids that we are most proud of," Richard Crozier, the principal at Smallwood.
"We hope that when these kids get to the middle school, when they get to the high school, they continue growing as leaders that they apply the skills that they learn here in their neighborhoods, at the sporting events, at their dance teams," Jeff Wheeler, a 4th grade teacher at Smallwood.
Smallwood is also hoping to be a National School of Character. They will learn in May if the school is recognized.
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