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A new program named Agent Elliot/Elly has taken hold at Lakeside School, a positive addition to an otherwise routine bus loading process at Lakeside Elementary School in Chisago City. A third grader inspired this great idea.

Each month staff members are assigned to various be in locations to ensure student safety as busses are boarded. One day third grader Elliot Lee asked if he could stand with a teacher and say goodbye to fellow students. It was quickly observed that students responded favorably to the farewell from a peer.

Elliot asked if he could be a greeter the next day, and the next day, and the next day! That concept was brought to the Lakeside Pride Committee and Agent Elliot/Elly was approved as a positive attitude plan!

Classroom teachers asked for student volunteers and quickly over 40 spots were filled until the end of the year! Each week, a child is paired with one of the eight teachers during bus duty. The student's job is to be A Greeter who is Enthusiastic, Nice and Talkative (A.G.E. N. T.) The volunteers visit with staff while they wait to greet their peers, knowing many of them by first name. It is a win-win situation in which positive attitudes for school extend all the way to the last student getting on the last bus!

Thank you, Elliot and all the agent volunteers for spreading cheer, positive energy and enthusiasm to the very end of the school day. Elliot is in photo, left.

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