Hayward Middle School Celebrates 2nd Quarter 'Be the 1' Initiative with Tournament and Prize Drawings

By Joe Morey News Editor

Hayward Middle School recently celebrated the second quarter of its ongoing “Be the 1” initiative, a program aimed at fostering positive behavior among students. On Thursday, January 23rd, students and staff gathered for a friendly bean bag tournament followed by the much-anticipated quarterly recognition ceremony.

The “Be the 1” initiative rewards students who demonstrate exemplary behavior—acts of kindness, responsibility, and academic diligence—with honor tickets. According to Amanda Scheel, Hayward Schools Johnson-O’Malley Coordinator, “Students can earn tickets for things like opening doors for others, picking up trash that isn’t theirs, being kind to classmates, staying caught up on homework, and good attendance.” These tickets can be redeemed for snacks, school supplies, extra recess time, or other prizes. Additionally, they are placed into a five-gallon bucket for the quarterly prize drawing held during the ceremony.

This quarter’s event featured a school-wide bean bag tournament where both students and staff had the opportunity to participate. The winners of the competition were tribal member Kimberleigh Sanchez and seventh-grade science teacher Mr. Phillips. The celebration continued with the much-anticipated prize drawing, where Kimberleigh Sanchez also won a gift basket filled with books, hot cocoa, and a cozy blanket.

Other major prize winners included tribal member Abbigail Ross, who received a stay-cation package consisting of a free night at the Sevenwinds Casino Hotel and a $50 gift card to Dye Hards Restaurant at Big Fish Golf Course. Tribal member Eli Butler walked away with a winter adventure package courtesy of Hayward Powersports, which included two snowmobile or side-by-side rental passes, two hats, and a $25 gift certificate to Coop’s Pizza.

Students had the chance to win a variety of additional prizes, including a stay-cation at the Hayward Holiday Inn with a $20 gift certificate for bowling at Riverside Lanes, a summer amusement package featuring three passes to Hayward Amusement Center with a $25 gift certificate to Coop’s Pizza, another winter adventure package from Hayward Powersports, a $150 Walmart gift card, and a $150 Visa gift card.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our community partners,” Scheel said. “The support from local businesses and individuals allows us to make this initiative such a rewarding experience for our students.”

A special thanks was extended to the Sevenwinds Casino Lodge and Conference Center, Dye Hards, and the LCO Tribal Governing Board for their contributions. Additional appreciation was given to Bill Trepanier, Joe Morey, Joe Taylor, and Daylene Sharlow for their efforts in gathering donations and ensuring the event’s success.

The “Be the 1” initiative continues to inspire and encourage students to make positive choices, fostering a school culture built on respect, responsibility, and community involvement.