RHS Principal Andy Peltz had an idea. He wanted to recognize students who do not always get credit for the great things they do around campus. On Friday, March eleventh, Peltz held the first pancake breakfast event to give awards to students. He showed his appreciation to thirteen students over some chocolate chip pancakes—made by Peltz himself.

Peltz hopes to make the pancake breakfast a monthly event for a chance to recognize students who have been doing great things. 

Peltz explained the thought behind why he wanted to start doing this event. 

“I wanted to celebrate kids, who maybe aren’t normally recognized, for just being good people. It’s not necessarily [about] the best student or getting perfect grades. It’s about people who go a little extra or above and beyond, and live up to the Vision of a Minuteman,” Peltz said. 

Peltz described what the Vision of a Minuteman means to him. 

“To me, the Vision of a Minuteman is a guiding set of principles that gives us positive steps to take control of our character and how we act with others,” Peltz said. 

The principles of Vision of a Minuteman are creating solutions, having a learners mindset, competence and empathy. 

Freshman Gavin Long was among the thirteen recognized students for displaying the principles of Vision of a Minuteman. 

Long explained why he was given an award at the breakfast.

“[My award was for] embodying confidence and empathy,” Long said. 

Social studies teacher Phillip Heyn nominated Long. Any teacher, administrator or other staff member in the building is allowed to nominate students that they believe live up to the Vision of a Minuteman and display good character. Nominated students get to enjoy chocolate chip pancakes and hot chocolate while being acknowledged by Peltz so that their good character does not go unnoticed. 

Long described what the morning of the event was like for the students. 

“We showed up, we ate pancakes, we got to read about how we were nominated [and] who nominated us and why. Each teacher wrote a little bit about the student that they chose. Dr. Peltz awarded us with our certificates. He thanked us for being ‘awesome kids,’ and he thanked us for showing up, too,” Long said.

The week before the event, nominated students were given invitations from the guidance office. Students didn’t know about the breakfast prior to the invitation since it was the first time it was held.

Senior Paige Gehring was also given the opportunity to come to the pancake breakfast. Gehring is an active member of Yearbook, and Yearbook adviser Amy Fagnilli nominated her. Fagnilli nominated her for engaging with purpose and displaying the principles included in Vision of a Minuteman. Gehring explained why she was awarded.

“I am in Yearbook and I have been working my tail off recently to get everything done since I am an editor. Fagnilli wrote [on my nomination submission] ‘Pages of Yearbook beast!’,” Gehring said. 

Gehring explained why this event was exciting for her. 

“It was honestly really fun and special because. . . it was nice to be appreciated. And Dr. Peltz makes the best pancakes ever. This was really nice for my senior year to have something special,” Gehring said. 

Gehring explained that she is looking forward to seeing how the event grows in the coming months. 

“They are going to be [having this event] at least once a month from now on, and I am excited to see how it progresses throughout the year,” Gehring said. 

Peltz explained what he hopes for the future of this event.

“My goal is that by the end of a students’ four years [in high school], they will have hopefully been invited at least one–if not two–times to the breakfast,” Peltz said.

Peltz explained that he would like to see more students getting invited to the breakfast in the future. 

“[There were thirteen] at the first one. I’m hoping that number is going to grow as the teachers begin to understand a little bit more. . . I am hoping that all of the staff members take advantage of nominating a student a least a couple times a year,” Peltz said. 

Gehring described how Peltz has shown that he cares for his students during his time as principal. 

“It was really special to have the principal take the time out of his day to be with us. . . He wants to make [your high school] experience as great as it can be, especially for us seniors since we are almost out. He said ‘No matter where you go, whether you end up being a Bobcat, Buckeye, Falcon, Redhawk, you will always be a Minuteman’,” Gehring said. 

During Peltz’s first year as Revere’s principal, he has done many things to get involved with students. Whether he is showing up to sporting events, running his principal blog and Twitter to connect with the school or making pancakes to recognize students for their hard work, Peltz has immersed himself in the Revere community