December 2024 C.A.K.E. Award Recipients Announced

The Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 December C.A.K.E. Award, which stands for Character, Attitude, Kindness, and Encouragement, has been awarded to three outstanding learners.

Congratulations to Adyson and Taysom Jaramillo, the first twins to receive this honor! The twins are 5th grade learners attending Syringa Elementary. Congratulations also to Crue Lopez, a 7th grade learner at Irving Middle School, for being recognized with this exemplary award. 

Adyson and Taysom were nominated by their teachers, Ms. Andrea Gulden and Ms. Cindel Vasquez. In their nomination letters they wrote, “This year, Adyson and Taysom Jaramillo, who are twins and have always been in the same class until now, were placed in separate rooms for the first time. Adyson is with Mrs. Gulden, and Taysom is with Ms. Vasquez. While it was a new experience for them, both siblings have continued to shine brightly and make a significant impact in their respective classrooms.

In Ms. Vasquez's class, Taysom has emerged as a beacon of encouragement. He consistently supports classmates who are struggling, reminding them to persevere and never give up. His kindness extends to everyone, and he leads by example, fostering a spirit of teamwork and a positive attitude that inspires his peers to do their best. 

Meanwhile, in Mrs. Gulden's class, Adyson's presence is equally remarkable. She is always ready to lend a hand and help anyone in need, often stepping in without being asked. Her kindness knows no bounds, and she has made an effort to befriend new students, ensuring everyone feels welcome and accepted. Adyson's actions encourage others to follow her lead and strive for their best. 

Though both Adyson and Taysom were initially nervous about being separated, it is clear that they have each brought their unique strengths and positive qualities to their new environments. We are grateful to have such wonderful learners, each contributing to positive, supportive, and welcoming atmospheres in our classrooms.”

Crue was nominated by, Ms. Tammy Parker. In her nomination letter, Ms. Parker wrote, “I would like to nominate Crue Lopez for this award. I am a para that gets the opportunity to work with English Learners in our district. I had a student who was new to our country and was able to understand very little English. He traveled from Irving to Hawthorne to attend ELS class with other peers who are learning the English language. Crue had a few classes with this same student at Irving. I found out that Crue had started to talk using a translator to this student.

Crue also started to use Duolingo at home on his own free time to become better at communicating with the ESL student. Crue also made flash cards at home with the Spanish word and the English word on the back to practice his knowledge. This effort was not something that was asked or assigned to Crue. He chose to do this on his own to help the ESL student be able to communicate easier. He also was a friend to the ESL student, which is something that is not easy when you speak different languages. I feel like this effort by Crue is a real example of what this award is all about, which is going above and beyond what is expected to help someone. I hope that this nomination will be considered and that Crue Lopez will be honored by receiving this award.”

Adyson, Taysom and Crue were recognized at the Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Our Partner for this award, Johnson Family McDonald's, provides each learner and their nominators with a gift card, along with $50 to purchase books for the school’s media center in the recipients’ names. PCSD 25 believes a safe, supportive, caring and respectful environment is critical to student learning. The District Education Foundation, in partnership with McDonald’s, supports the Learner-of-the-Month C.A.K.E. Award to recognize students who show great character. The district recognizes one elementary learner and one secondary learner from October through May. Nominations for the C.A.K.E. Award are submitted by a teacher who has observed the nominee’s behavior, and are approved by the school’s principal.