Addison in Lights

At the kids school they do Pillars of Characters or AKA Character Counts. Each month they focus on one of the Pillars and then each teacher on campus picks a few children from their class that they feel reflects that pillar and tells why and then the staff picks one child per class to get the award. The goal is by the time they finish 6th grade they have been recognized in one of the six pillars. Vincent was recognized in 1st Grade and got the Pillar of Trustworthiness. Addison got the award last year in the Pillar of Caring. I was a bit surprised when I got an enveloped note home from his teacher on Monday letting me know that they would be having the character counts assembly this Friday and Addison was getting an award. (The kids are not told ahead of time so it is a surprise to them) I asked another teacher if Addison could be getting a second one and she told me it is possible and he would have had to been voted on to get it, but they do try to keep it at one award for each child. I went to the assembly this morning and for the first time they had 3 grades in there so they did the video of all the recipients and then recognized each of the kids with a certificate and a pencil with their pillar on it. Since it wasn't just his grade level each teacher didn't get to take the time to explain why each child had been chosen for that award. I was so proud of Addison for getting it twice. When it was over I headed home. About a half hour after I got home the Assistant Principle called and told me that I left before he could talk to me, could I please come back up to the school he needed to talk to me. I figured it had something to do with Vincent since he is over Vincent's case at school. I went back over to the school and met with the Assistant Principle and he walked me and Eliza right to Addison's class. Following us was the School Psychologist and Principle. His teacher then got up front and said she wanted to explain why Addison had received the award he did. One day during class while his teacher was teaching Addison got out of his seat and started walking to the other side of the classroom. She started to get after him and she said the words just didn't come out. Addison then grabbed a chair from the computer and sat down next to a little boy in the class who was crying and without saying a word just put his arm around him. Not a single word was ever spoken by Addison or this little boy, but his teacher said she had a hard time continuing to teach after that. For you see this little boy in Addison's class is being raised along with his little sister by a single father who was called up to active duty a little over a month ago. There is no family near by so members of his congregation at church have been helping to take care of him and his little sister while his dad serves his country in Afghanistan. He has been having a very hard time. The school psychologist just happen to be in the class observing this little boy the day Addison did that. Addison was then recognized by the Principle and Assistant Principle and given the Bear Country Citizenship Award. Of course bad mom me had not a clue that was why I was going back to the school so didn't take my camera so have no pictures from his class, but I am so proud of my son! Addison is my challenge in life, but in so many ways is my most observant of others. Way to go Addison!