06/13/11  Teachers and administrators in the Plymouth and Argos school system agree, BUGS are good for kids and their grades.

BUGS, stands for Brining Up Grades and is a program sponsored by the Plymouth Kiwanis group in all the fourth grade classes in Plymouth Schools and St. Michael’s as well as 4TH grade in Argos. 

  The BUGS program uses charts to track the students’ success and uses incentives of certificates, buttons and a party to encourage students to work hard in class and bring up their grades from one grading period to the next.  BUGS helps students discover helpful study tips and to set goals to increase their grades. Students in the program are not competing against each other, but against their personal best. They are told it is ok to make a mistake as long as you learn from it. Even straight A students can earn rewards in the program and students who help other students achieve success are known as Super Bugs.

Plymouth Elementary Schools continue to find BUGS a success.  Bob Remenih, principal at Jefferson Elementary feels that “the BUGS program is a nice incentive for kids who struggle, gets them motivated and helps to keep them working hard.”

Mrs. Hopple, fourth grade teacher at Menominee Elementary remarked, “I had a limited English student who you could tell was so proud of earning the BUGS award.  He would always wear his BUGS pin and made sure he had his work turned in.  At the end of the nine weeks when his name would get called, he would just smile and tell me how happy he was to have made it.”

Of the 303 fourth grade students, 296 of them brought up their grades.  The 98% attainment is due to the fact that Plymouth elementary schools honored not just those who brought up their grades, but those students who maintained all A’s in all their subjects. 

In reflection to the high rate, Mrs. Carrie McGuire, principal at Webster Elementary stated, “We encouraged students to help other students in meeting their goal.” In addition to the academic success, Mike Dunn, principal at Menominee Elementary said, “the attendance rate for the fourth grades had increased from last year, with the average attendance rate for fourth grade being 97%.  It is obvious that students were motivated to come to school and do their best.”

This year the Plymouth Kiwanis also raffled a bicycle donated by Young’s Appliance.  The lucky winner was a student from Washington Elementary.  Mrs. Michele Riise, principal at Washington Elementary was pleased to see her student recognized.  “He was a very deserving young man, and we are greatful for Kiwanis and the community in helping our students reinforce high expectations of themselves.”

End of the year parties were also held for all the students in the BUGS program where one student from each class received a BUGS t-shirt.  At Jefferson Elementary in Plymouth, students enoyed cupcakes and drinks. . Darnell Ashton of Jefferson received a $50.00 gift certificate to the BookWorm in Plymouth from Kiwanis and Robertson Gillian won a $25.00 BookWorm certificate compliments of Bob Remeigh.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time. The Plymouth Kiwanis meet each Tuesday at noon at Christo’s Banquet Center in Plymouth and interested people and/or potential new members are always welcome. For more information, contact Tom Sibal at 935-8442.

PICTURED : Dot Taiclet, Tyler Hill and Diann Bradley at Argos

#2 Ian Arveson of Jefferson Elementary in Plymouth enjoys a cupcake at the BUGS party