PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, JUNE 21, 2019
KeizerCommunity
Middle schoolers rewarded for turning it around
KEIZERTIMES.COM
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
Eighth-graders
Emma
Gonzalez from Claggett Creek
Middle School and Logan Hunt
from Whiteaker Middle School
were two of 20 kids across
the Salem-Keizer community
that were recognized at the
25th
annual
Turnaround
Achievement Awards last month.
The Turnaround Achieve-
ment Awards recognize middle
and high-school students who
demonstrate effort, commit-
ment and perseverance in the
face of adversity and shine a
spotlight on students that have
shown personal improvement
in their academics, behavior or
attitude.
“These awards are so mean-
ingful
and
truly encom-
pass the true
grit, deter-
mination and
perseverance
our students
hold,”
said
Salem-Keiz-
er
Public
Schools Su-
perintendent
Christy Per-
ry. “Over the
past 25 years,
it has been a
privilege to
honor our students and the pos-
itive changes they have made.”
For Gonzalez, one of the big
reasons for the turnaround was
having a more active social life
at school.
“Last year, everyone was
scared of me and wouldn’t really
talk to me. But this year, every-
one started talking to me, so I
got happy,” Gonzalez said.
Sam Wilkerson, who has
been Gonzalez’s counselor for
the last three years, has taken
notice of how she has done a
better job of engaging in social
interactions this year.
“She has done a good job of
making new friends and people
see that she isn’t intimidating,”
Wilkerson said. “I think her true
colors came to light, because
KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings
she’s a kind person who cares a
lot about her family and friends.
It’s been really exciting to see
her shift.”
Gonzalez
also
shared
how import-
ant it has
been for her
to not only
develop rela-
tionships with
her classmates,
but with her
teachers
as
well.
And
as
those
re-
lationships
formed, Gon-
zalez’s schoolwork started to
improve as well, going from a
2.3 grade-point-average to a
3.2.
“I have been talking to
teachers. Last year, I wouldn’t
talk to them or anything. But
this year, I actually got to know
them and actually started liking
them,” Gonzalez said. “It’s been
easier to do my work because I
haven’t been getting in trouble
and I haven’t been suspended.
I’ve been trying to do good and
now I am actually getting good
grades.”
Gonzalez hopes to continue
her success at McNary next year
where she hopes to get involved
with the school AVID program.
“It’s been great to see the
turnaround. I knew that she al-
ways had it in her. You have to
give a lot of credit to her, but
also the whole staff,” Wilkerson
said. “I think Erika deserves all
the credit and recognition that
she has been given.”
Hunt’s turnaround, on the
other hand, had a lot to do with
the increase in his effort and
coming to the realization that
LEFT: Sam Wilkerson, Emma
Gonzalez and Jen Williams.
ABOVE: Logan Hunt.
he needed to take school more
seriously.
“I just thought about school
being more important,” Hunt
said. “I still don’t like school. I’d
rather be at home laying down,
but it’s important because I want
to get a good education like all
my other family members.”
Hunt has had Lisa Perkins
as a teacher throughout middle
school, and she has gotten to see
fi rst hand the improvements he
has made in his academics and
behavior.
“There’s a much bigger
change from the sixth grade,”
Perkins said. “His effort has defi -
nitely increased. He now sees
the value of getting his work
turned in on time and sees the
value of the education he is get-
ting here.”
“Logan has a lot of people
that have been with him since
sixth grade. We’re all a family
here at this school. We take care
of all of our students.”
Hunt is incredibly thankful
for his teacher for not giving up
on him.
“Ms. Perkins has stuck it out
with me for a long time,” Hunt
said. “She has made school so
much easier and has helped with
big projects using baby steps.”
“She has been there for me.”
Hunt will also be attending
McNary next school year and
is excited to join the Celtics
band. He played the baritone
throughout middle school, but
wants to switch to the trombone
in high school.
“I didn’t really participate in
sixth grade, but now I’m beast-
ing it,” Hunt said.
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WorshipDirectory
These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051
KEIZER CLEAR LAKE
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
a member of Open Door
Churches of Salem-Keizer
REV. ALYSSA BAKER, Lead Pastor
Services are Sunday at 10 am
(Nursery & Sunday School for Children)
7920 Wheatland Rd N • 503-393-2402 • www.kclumc.org
PEOPLESCHURCH
4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM
503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com
Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor
Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m.
Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m.
9:00 am
Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries
1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer
503-390-3900
www.dayspringfellowship.com
and
10:45 am
Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor
Worship - 10:30 a.m.
Education Hour - 9:15 a.m.
Nursery Care Available
www.keizerjkpres.org
9:30 am
& 11:00 am
Sunday
Worship
Services
SUNDAY
SERVICES
4505 River Road N, Keizer • 503-393-4507
www.FLCkeizer.org
Sunday School - 9:00 am
Worship Service -10:00 am
452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404
8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm
Faith Lutheran Church , ELCA
Pastor Linda Matz Easterling
John Knox Presbyterian Church
JOIN US FOR
SUNDAY WORSHIP
www.KeizerChristian.org