Superheroes swoop Cherry Valley
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POLSON — About 250 caped Superheroes for Kindness filled the Cherry Valley Elementary School all-purpose room on May 25 to repeat the superhero pledge. Although these superheroes were kindergartners and first graders, they took their jobs seriously. Each had super powers and a cape decorated with the symbol of their choice.
All the students wore their capes for the assembly.
Inspiration for the capes came from a preschool in Missoula, where a teacher made capes for all her students, according to Bill Starkey, Cherry Valley psychologist and counselor.
This month’s word or virtue at Cherry Valley was joyfulness/fun and excitement, so the capes were a perfect fit, he said. Family night was cape-making night, and 35 parents and grandparents cut out the felt capes and sewed on Velcro strips as fasteners. Each child has a superhero name, such as Horse Girl or the Green Lantern, and a story telling about their powers.
“We recite a 'we’re-all-in-this-together' pledge,” Starkey explained, adding that he wrote the pledge with help from superheroes such as Spiderman and Superman.
The children wear their capes as part of Cherry Valley’s bully prevention program to role-play what to do when someone is being mean. As a special treat, they wear their capes when the entire class does something good for other kids.
The capes are part of Cherry Valley’s “somewhat unique bully prevention program,” Starkey said.
The school also honored all the members of the community who had volunteered time and expertise with the children. A contingent of Cherry Valley students shook hands with all the visitors and thanked them. Interim Superintendent Bill Appleton read a congratulatory letter for the students from Montana Superintendent of Schools Denise Juneau, issuing a Superheroes for Kindness Proclamation.
Bev Bailey received a plaque for 15 years of making nutritious lunches and breakfasts for Cherry Valley children.
As for the kids, the capes are fun and, as one student said, they remind us to be nice to everyone.
