For the seventh year, staff and students at MC Knoll Elementary School have been promoting good choices amongst their students.
'Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down' has been actively promoted at the Yorkton school to help young students make wise decisions on a day-to-day basis.
MC Knoll staff member Mark Schendel said it's a good way to monitor and promote making wise choices amongst the students.
A large gathering in the school gym last Thursday watched as several students were recognized in front of their mates.
"The emphasis (here), is to recognize excellence within a student."
Each year, MC Knoll gets some help from local hockey teams to come and award students with prizes.
Last year, Schendel had members of the Harvest hockey team appear. This year, he had Terrier Clarke Breitkreuz help with awards.
The school had three buckets available during the course of the campaign, says Schendel; one for the Kindergarten through Gr. 3s, a second bucket for the Gr. 4-6s and a third for the senior students, Gr. 7-8.
"Students had to get their name in the draw basket by making good decisions, showing respect to the adults in the building, to their peers, and respect for themselves."
The added addition of the hockey player was a huge bonus for the kids, Schendel said of Breitkreuz helping out.
"Absolutely," says Schendel.
Turner Ottenbreit and Hanna Czinkota both won Yorkton Terrier hockey sticks and had their pictures taken with Breitkreuz.
Says Schendel: "Thanks to Don Chesney, Trent Cassan, Clarke obviously, and the rest of the Terriers."
Others who have helped out in the past include former Terriers Dustin and Chad Nehring, Derek Serdachny, Joel Danyluk and Breitkreuz for helping this year.
The Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down day came several days following the Terriers' elimination from the SJHL playoffs. Yorkton travelled to LaRonge for Game 7 of the league finals where they fell 3-1 to the Icewolves.
Breitkreuz said it's always disappointing to lose a Game 7, it was one of his best experiences as a hockey player. He also said the rink in LaRonge is really small but also really loud.
