As the time draws closer to Winter Break, student excitement for sleeping in and days without homework builds very high. To help keep their students focused prior to break, the Galion Middle School seventh grade teachers decided to develop a “Winter Carnival,” being held Dec. 18, as an incentive for students who display positive behavior.

All students started with a “clean slate” two weeks ago when the incentive was announced; however, if students are assigned a “demerit” during the incentive time period, then they become ineligible for the incentive. Students “earn” punches based on average grades in their courses.

“We believe strongly in reinforcing students’ positive behaviors, and this is just one way that we have chosen to do this,” 7th grade English Language Arts teacher Lynn Evans said. “We are appreciative of our administrators who support this approach and also to the parents and community volunteers who are pitching in to help make the event successful through donations of cookies or volunteering during the carnival.”

A variety of activities are planned for the Winter Carnival. Mrs. Evans’ classroom will feature a “Christmas Cookie Cafe” where students will be able to decorate homemade cut-out cookies to either enjoy with punch or to take and gift. Mr. Yunker and Mr. Wilson are sponsoring a photo opportunity for students, in which they will pose in front of a green screen, with or without provided silly props, and will choose a background from around the world that will appear once digitally compiled.

Mrs. Hamill, Mrs. Gibson, and Mr. Erlsten will have various thematic carnival games in their rooms, including Snowball Toss, Pin the Nose on Olaf, Tic-Tac-Toe and Rudolph Ring Toss, just to name a few. Mrs. Fenner will host a Christmas trivia room, where students will compete electronically via “Kahoot.”

“Our 7th grade teachers are doing a fantastic job incentivizing their students to perform at their best,” Middle School Principal Jennifer Allerding said. “I also must thank the parent and community volunteers because their unwavering support has made this great student event possible.”