Longhorn Pride Alive and Well at Burwell Elementary
October 21, 2024
What is Longhorn Pride? Ask any student in Burwell Elementary or any student that has been there in the last twenty years and they will have an answer and a great story. Former Burwell Elementary School Principal, Jason Alexander, started Longhorn Pride when current Burwell Elementary Principal, Nate Nelson, was in 4th grade. Longhorn Pride is a positive behavior reward system used to reinforce the good behavior of Burwell Elementary students. The program focuses on five pillars: respect, perseverance, responsibility, compassion, and trustworthiness. Mr. Alexander decided it was a good way to encourage kids and celebrate their great behavior. When a teacher notices a student modeling one of the pillars, they receive a Longhorn Pride slip. A copy of the slip then goes into a monthly drawing for prizes. On the last Friday of the month, an assembly is held in the elementary gym to draw for winners. Principal Nelson lights up when remembers the trip he won to Worlds of Fun for Longhorn Pride in 4th grade!
As Mr. Nelson has taken on the role of Elementary Principal, he has implemented the theme “Get Back to your Roots” for the 2024-25 school year. This theme places a huge emphasis on Longhorn Pride. Mr. Nelson, along with Sarah Lindsay and Mrs. White, have found ways to add to the Longhorn Pride program. A new exciting change is “Class of the Month”. One of the five pillars of Longhorn Pride is emphasized for the month and whichever class exhibits the pillar the best is selected “Class of the Month”.
Longhorn Pride has a new donation method as well. Donors can donate any amount of money they prefer. Prizes from the school gift shop are given to the donors based on their donation. With a donation of $100, donors receive a white Longhorn Pride shirt with a Longhorn Pride slip and plaque. A purple Longhorn Pride shirt with the donor’s name on it, a Longhorn Pride slip/ plaque, and a BPS cup filled with items from the school store is awarded to the donor for a $200 donation. With a donation of $300 or above, the donor receives a Longhorn Pride shirt with their name, a Longhorn Pride slip/ plaque, and a BPS canvas gift bag. Mr. Nelson’s goal for the future of Longhorn Pride is to find more ways to incorporate the community and to celebrate the BES students! “When you do good things, good things happen”!
