Tag Archives: Alpha Wolf 11

Wyoming teachers, students give shout outs to those who demonstrate Alpha qualities

May 21, 20183-bottom, City of WyomingAlpha Wolf 11, Jeff Kordich, Wyoming High School, Wyoming Public SchoolsJoanne

Junior Brandon Ratliff (left) dances with a friend during the presentation by guest speaker John Angotti at the Alpha Wolf 11 assembly last week. Ratliff received a Shout-Out from teachers during the assembly.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

This year, as part of Wyoming High School’s Alpha Wolf spring program, teachers and students were able to give “Shout-Outs” to others who represented the Alpha Wolf qualities of kind, compassion, and graciousness.

“The thought among some of us teachers was to recognize more students during this champion of character celebration,” said Wyoming teacher John Dolye who along with teacher Jon Bushen organized the Alpha Wolf event.

Teacher Jeff Kordich receives the Alpha Wolf teacher award.

Teachers were asked to consider any student they would like to recognize during the Alpha Wolf assembly. Two students per grade level are recognized and introduced between the main Alpha Wolf 11 recipients. Teachers give each student who receives a “Shout Out” a t-shirt which states “Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character” and on the back in large letters “I’ve Got Your Back!” along with an Alpha Wolf 11 lanyard.

After the fall Alpha Wolf assembly, where the the Teacher Shout-Outs were first introduced, students approached Doyle about doing a Student Shout-Out to a specific teacher.

“We thought this was a great student-led initiative,” Doyle said. “We allow one student from each of the three grade levels to select a teacher they feel represents the Alpha Wolf characteristics — kind, compassion, and graciousness.”

Students give the teachers a personalized Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character Stainless Coffee Mug with a lanyard and wrist bracelet as well to show their gratitude, he said. The Teacher Shout-Outs lead to the Alpha Wolf Teacher of the Year Award, which is only given during the spring assembly. This year’s winner was Jeff Kordich, a second year teacher to the district. The teacher award is also student-led, Doyle noted.

“We have been so impressed with our student body when it comes to them initiating and adding to this powerful ‘REVOLUTION MOVEMENT’ we call Alpha Wolf 11,” Doyle said.

“We believe that if you lay down the expectation of what kindness, compassion, and graciousness looks like, students will pick it up to run and share it with others — simply amazing.”

Teacher Shout-Outs to STUDENTS:

Dale Cross – 10th grader presented by teacher Jake Ritsema

Callie Seymour – 10th grader presented by teacher Stephanie Rathsack

Guadalupe Rivera-Parda – 11th grader presented by teacher Catye Palomino

Brandon Ratliff – 11th grader presented by teacher Irvin Sigler

Jordan Irwin – 12th grader presented by Mary Alice Miller

Caitlyn Bulthuis – 12th grader presented by teacher Robin Higley

Student Shout-Outs to TEACHERS:

Tom Cornell presented by student Tiffany Le

Jon Bushen presented by student Aliya Rivera

Anna Servo presented by student Long Ho

Clark VerHulst presented by Julyssa Barajas Gutierrez

Alpha Wolf 11 Ceremony honors exemplary Wyoming High School students

January 27, 20173-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Education, Local Entertainment, SportsAlpha Wolf 11, Champion of Character, Victoria Mullen, Wyoming High SchoolJoanne

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By Victoria Mullen

WKTV

At the end of each semester, Wyoming High School honors six exemplary students with the Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character Award. Two sophomores, two juniors and two seniors are chosen by staff and peers. The ceremony takes place in front of the entire student body, special guests from the Wyoming community, Wyoming Public Safety officers, school administration and the Wyoming Board of Education members.

Such was the case on Thursday, Jan. 26. The gymnasium’s stands were filled with students at rapt attention. Wyoming police and fire departments came to show their support and to be honored. Parents and school administrators cheered on and the high school band punctuated the ceremony.

The Alpha Wolf is a rare and special breed — a power unto him or herself. They’re at their strongest when they empower their peers. Proactive in helping others and ever striving to set a high standard for those around them, they lead by example, going the extra mile to help a schoolmate feel welcome, spreading good cheer to all and displaying good character. One need not be an “A” student to attain this goal.

On a scale of 1 to 10, the Alpha Wolf is an 11 in everything they do. Kind, compassionate, gracious, these are 2017’s champions of character and new pillars of our community:

Avalon Dexter
Issac Sutton
Noelle Keen
Sinai Salvador
Ansleigh Hamilton
Pedro Perez Lopez

When Kindness, Compassion Trumps Grades, Touchdowns

February 3, 2016Area Education, Education, Local FacesAlpha Wolf 11, Champion of Character, Erin Albanese, School News Network, Wyoming High SchoolJoanne

Lexi Pearson learns shes an Alpha Wolf 11

By: Erin Albanese – School News Network

About Wyoming High School sophomore Bryan Rosello Lizardo: “His peers describe him as someone who helps other students when the teachers are busy… dedicated, kind and a helper… He gives the greatest gift one can give. The gift of time.”

About sophomore Gabriel Pulaski: “Genuinely empathetic, this person is always a listening ear, and not just for his friends, but for anyone who might need someone just to be there.”

About junior Ryan Huizinga: “He approaches life putting others before himself, which has not gone unnoticed by his classmates.”

About junior Lexi Pearson: “One teacher said it is hard to put into words how much she has contributed to Wyoming Public Schools. Her volunteer hours have to be in the thousands.”

About senior Brendan Berg: “He exerts a quiet authority in his leadership, yet at the same time, shows great humility and respect for others.”

About senior Cindy Ochoa: “Attention must be paid to this 12th-grade recipient who exemplifies the actions of kindness by offering advice. She serves as a reminder that positivity and compassion are traits of a leader.”

Junior Ryan Huizinga celebrates with his family

An Alpha Wolf 11 has nothing to do with grades, sports or test scores, but everything to do with being kind, compassionate and gracious to each other, said Principal Nate Robrahn. These descriptions explain why six Wyoming High School students are Alpha Wolf 11 Champions of Character. Awarded at the inaugural ceremony for the new program, students wept as they were named supreme pack leaders of the Wyoming Wolves in front of an audience of staff, administrators, Board of Education members and City of Wyoming officials. U.S. History teacher John Doyle read lengthy narratives about each student before revealing them as winners.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, they’re an 11,” he told students. “It has everything to do with what you do here at Wyoming High School. This has to do with what people you are on the inside, and making us a better community inside the walls and outside this place as you spread what this is. You all here, all 1,000 of you in this gym right now, are great young people and you have the chance to make a difference.”

Putting Character First

Doyle approached Wyoming staff with the idea for Alpha Wolf 11 after his son, Ian, received a similar award through Grandville High School’s “Ryan Fischer Be an 11” program. The Grandville program is named after student and hockey player Ryan Fischer, who died of a heart condition 2014.

Doyle was so moved he wanted to bring a similar program to Wyoming. “I was just like, ‘We’ve got to do this. It is so impactful. We are going to pull this off bigger and better. We wanted to give it back to the kids and community.”

Sophomore Gabriel Pulaski reacts to being an Alpha Wolf 11

Doyle said he wants students to realize character is the most important thing in life. “We’ve got all these awards for athletics, scholarships, band, this and that. How about just the regular kids. How about kids getting an award for simply being good?”

Doyle told students that he sees great things happening. “This school, when facing adversity, just continues to impress me. I love it here. A lot of people love it here. Continue to be kind, compassionate and gracious… It will all work out.”

His voice boomed. “That’s why this school rocks. That’s why this school is a good school!”

Robrahn, who began as principal in 2013, said he’s constantly impressed with his students. In nominating each other, students wrote incredibly powerful things.

The first six Alpha Wolf 11s are honored on the gymnasium wall

“These are the nicest kids, the kindest kids I’ve had in my career,” he said. “That’s the piece we want for kids. All the academic content is important, but if we can help kids take care of each other, it’s a better world we live in.”

Six students, two from each grade at the 10th through 12th-grade building, will be named Alpha Wolf 11s each semester.

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

Wyoming to Honor Alpha Wolves

January 27, 2016Area Education, Education, Our Cities, Upcoming EventsAlpha Wolf 11, Champion of Character, City of Wyoming, Mike DeWittJoanne

An Alpha Wolf is someone who stands out from the pack in everything they do. Not only is the Alpha Wolf a power by themselves, but they’re at their strongest when they can impact others. An Alpha Wolf is always proactive in helping others and strives to set the standard for those around them. On a scale of 1 to 10, the Alpha Wolf is an 11 in everything they do.

This Thursday – January 28 – for the first time, Wyoming High School will be honoring six students in an assembly as ‘Alpha Wolf 11 Champions of Character’ for their exemplary character inside the school walls. Every student is eligible for the award.

The award recognizes students for character and treating others with kindness and compassion at Wyoming High School. Being an Alpha Wolf 11 has nothing to do with what a student does in extracurriculars after school, but instead focuses on what they do during school hours, as people, to make the school a better place.

Wyoming High School faculty, support staff and administration all have a say in selecting six students, two from the sophomore, junior, and senior classes, to honor with the award. During the ceremony, the six winners will be introduced with a personal description of why they were selected. A banner will then be revealed in the gymnasium recognizing the Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character winners.

The Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character award will be presented in front of the entire student body, special guests from the Wyoming community, school administration, and the Wyoming Board of Education Members in a ceremony at the end of each school semester. A special guest speaker will be there to commemorate the event.

Not only will the students be given recognition in front of their peers and school administrators, but each student will receive a framed Alpha Wolf 11 Champion of Character certificate, lanyard, and their name placed on two large banners that will be displayed in the gymnasium and near the main office entrance of the building.

It’s a way for students to be celebrated for the little things they do to make a school environment friendly and something fun to be a part of. When the world asks for a 10, step up and give an 11.

WKTV will carry full video coverage of the assembly.