BRIDGEPORT – Bridgeport Middle School’s students have made their teachers and staff proud, and they recognized the young learners’ positive choices at the year-end awards on May 20.
Principal Anne Haverty Lawson addressed the gathered students, pointing out that their pride in their school shone during Bring a Friend to School Day earlier that week, when the middle school welcomed 43 visitors. Haverty Lawson said it spoke volumes that her students would want to invite their friends to experience the culture of the Bulldogs.
Fifth through eighth graders were called up and presented with a variety of awards, from talented and gifted qualifiers, to academic, band and athletic performance, to participants in Sources of Strength, which fosters resilience and wellness.
One high point was the Bridgeport Sportsmanship Awards. The middle school is no longer part of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, but the sportsmanship awards use the same criteria with a focus on the core values of sportsmanship, ethics and integrity and treating others with respect.
Eighth graders Cambria, Braylon, and Kason were recognized. They plan to continue playing as high schoolers.
Cambria, who plays softball, track, and cheerleading, dedicates herself to being an uplifting teammate, always picking others up when they are down.
“Giving them positivity,” she said. Cambria started playing early and found encouragement on the Bridgeport teams.
“There were a lot of good opportunities,” she said. She also took on the challenges. “There’s a lot of competition, but it makes you better to be able to be with your team.”
Braylon plays basketball and runs track. He emphasized the team spirit needed for success on the basketball court.
“Understanding the assignments you need to do, understanding the team, and how you have to assess yourself. Know your job on the team, because not everybody is great at everything.”
This is also true in track, where there is no substitute for doing your best.
“Understanding you’re not always going to be the best, the fastest, but trying to understand that you can be the fastest with effort and hard work.”
Kason plays baseball, basketball, football and track. He said team spirit and supporting other players is the key to winning.
“I just go in and I think to myself: ‘It’s the team. There’s no ‘I’ in team.’ You should always be trying to pick up your teammates.”
He credited the inspiration and encouragement of mentors, both in his family and the school district. Kason said the team faced many challenges together.
“You fall in love with these kids that you’re playing with. They become your family,” he said. “We’re all family now.”
For the younger students just starting middle school, Cambria said a positive attitude will take them far.
“Enjoy it and not be down on yourself or negative in sports.”
Braylon advises the new middle schoolers to sample the variety.
“Try and do every sport you can. When you hit high school there’ll be a point you can’t do some sports due to overlapping, so try to do everything you can and find something you want to stick with.”
Kason agreed and said now was the time to enjoy what school can offer, and to hold to the ideals of good sportsmanship.
“Live your life to the best. Right now you have it easy,” he said. “Get your homework done.”
Recognition also went to the Best of the Bulldogs, who have embraced the pillars of character, trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness and caring, embodying good citizenship in the school district and serving as role models.
Eighth grader Alexander summed up his time in middle school as he looks to his upcoming freshman year.
“It’s a great experience. I’ve been working on this the past four years doing whatever I can to get this achievement. I really just go get my work done, do what I’m supposed to do, help out my friends when they need it. Help out other people in the hallways.”
These include simple acts such as helping with locker combinations.
“It’s just amazing, being able to help people in our community,” he said. “Going forward, just make sure you’re helping out when you can. If you can’t, make sure you find someone who can help other people.”
Alexander looks forward to taking digital media and engineering in high school. His ambition is to be a pilot. He said the biggest challenge students face is scheduling schoolwork and extracurriculars, and recommends students organize their time and make good use of their flex periods.
Seventh grader Kali said thinking ahead pays off.
“Just being prepared and respecting your teachers,” she said. “Bridgeport has a lot of opportunities for advanced classes and the teachers here are really nice.”
She plans to take College Credit Plus classes in high school and possibly pursue a nursing career.
Sixth grader Zoey shows up with the right attitude.
“I’m always positive to my teachers and just making sure everybody enjoys their day. It makes me happy. It makes everybody else happy too,” she said. “Each grade level I go, the different subjects definitely get a bit harder but throughout the school year it makes it easier by the great teachers helping us learn everything.”
She loves softball and will continue playing into high school. She always challenges herself.
“I want to improve on what I know.”
Fifth grader Charles said caring for others is the first step to doing well.
“Every day I start being kind to people,” he said. He looks forward to the challenges of middle school and plans to try wrestling and basketball.
Additional recognition went to Haverty Lawson, who will be concluding her career as principal at the end of the school year. Superintendent Brent Ripley described her as a rock, always there for students and families and demonstrating a heart of service.
“Our lives are all built on serving one another,” he said. “And serving one another is what Anne Lawson has done,” Ripley said.
She received a standing ovation from her students.
