On Tuesday, students in Megan Curren’s fourth-grade class were rewarded as the Golden Cleat winners. The physical education incentive meant the class went to the Warren County YMCA and participated in different activities in the gym instead of going to their regular classes.

There were bounce houses, soccer and basketball games, scooters, hula hoops, and more.

School officials collaborated with YMCA Family and Youth Sports Coordinator Andrew Papalia on the arrangements.

“WAEC Administration greatly appreciates the willingness of Mr. Papalia and the Warren County YMCA to open their doors to our students for this fun-filled opportunity,” Assistant Principal Kylie Harris said.

Warren Area Elementary Center fourth-grader Ashlynn Zawacki works with a hula hoop in the Warren County YMCA gym Tuesday morning. The class earned a trip to the YMCA by showing positive behaviors in physical education class during the second marking period.

Part of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program at the school is a series of ‘golden’ incentives in specials – phys ed, library, art, and music.

The specials teachers keep records of the positive behaviors of each class. At the end of the second marking period, Curren’s class had the most points in phys ed and earned the trip.

“It gives them an extra motivator to show FIRE – Friendship, Independence, Responsibility, and Excellence – behavior during PE,” Physical Education Teacher Kara Hess said. “And, it gives them exposure to a community resource.”

Curren was proud of her students for earning the reward through their positive behavior.

“It doesn’t surprise me that they would win this,” Curren said. “They’re a great group of kids – kind and caring.”

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Warren Area Elementary Center fourth-graders MiKaylee Massa (left) and Adryana Yande slide head-first down the slides out of a bounce house at the Warren County YMCA gym Tuesday morning. The class earned a trip to the YMCA by showing positive behaviors in physical education class during the second marking period.

“It’s a great way to spend the morning,” she said.

The students left the YMCA at about 9:45 a.m., returning to their regularly-scheduled programming.