ULUKHAKTOK/HOLMAN
Kyran Alikamik says being appreciated for a job well done is more than just about being recognized in the hallway.

Helen Kalvak Elihakvik School students in Grades 1, 2 and 3 display their Ulu Awards and Best Attendance awards on Feb. 5. Front row from left, Krista Kitekudlak, Keiana Joss, Janette Pearce, Jonathan Ogina, Kiai Kanayok and Kallel Fancey. Back row from left, Lola Nigiyok, Mackenzie Kanayok , Shemekia Inukshuk, Tobin Klengenberg, Marcus Kuptana, Corbin Alonak and Hunter Okheena. - photo courtesy of Richard McKinnon

The Grade 7 student at Helen Kalvak Elihakvik School recently earned two awards for being a role model to other students.

"One of them was 'leading by example' and the other was 100 per cent attendance," Alikamik said.

The awards are part of a program that aims to boost confidence and motivate students to do their best, said principal Richard McKinnon.

"It's important to recognize them," he said. "They work hard and this allows us to give them some type of reward for the effort they put in."

The program consists of three awards categories, starting with the Pride Awards, which are presented weekly to students who are seen taking pride in their school, he said.

Winners' names are displayed on a bulletin board in the school's lobby for the week and they receive a ballot for the next award category, known as the Ulu Awards. The Ulu Awards are held monthly and recognize students' attendance and academic achievement, McKinnon said.

Students' families and members of the public are invited to attend the awards, which are held from about 11 a.m. until noon on the first Friday of each month.

Prizes are presented to winners, which can range from colouring books and word search booklets to ear phones and sports equipment.

The program culminates with a year-end award ceremony on the last day of school. Both classrooms and individuals receive prizes, which in the past has included bicycles and laptops, McKinnon said.

"That's attended by the entire school and community. There could be upwards of 100 to 200 people at those awards' ceremonies at the end of the year," he said. "It's a pretty good showing and the community really supports it. The kids look forward to it."

He said he hopes to be able to include an Xbox One in this year's list of prizes.

Alikamik said earning awards is encouraging.

"It's fun and you just know you get credit for what you do," he said.

This month's Ulu Awards were held on Feb. 5 and included both December and January winners, McKinnon said. Of the 100 students attending the school this semester, the majority of them earned awards during those two months for having an attendance record of more than 85 per cent or for doing good deeds.

While McKinnon said awards' ceremonies were taking place before his time at the school began seven years ago, the Pride Awards were launched just last year.

"Our student body is a bunch of respectful kids who like to help," he said. "We have a lot of kids who would just volunteer all the time but we weren't really recognizing them."

Publicly thanking individual students has helped to foster a sense of respect both within the school and in the community.

"When their name is out on the bulletin board, it's there for the entire week," he said. "It's pointed out and what it's done, actually, is that kids are starting to recognize that one of our core values at the school is respect. Respect for peers, respect for staff, respect for visitors."

Alikamik said his advice to other students looking to earn awards is to stay on task.

"Well, I'd just tell them to keep their head up and put all their problems aside and do their work," he said.

The next Ulu Awards ceremony will take place on Mar. 4.