Kudos to Parkside Elementary School

I have the Powell Middle School and Parkside Elementary School phone numbers saved on my phone.

It’s a good way to give myself a split second to remember one of my children is sick at home that day and I forgot to call him in, so let me prepare my apology.

During certain times of the year when everyone is getting sick, seeing either of those on my phone makes me worried my day might be turning into the work-from-home variety.

But seeing as I work just a couple blocks from Parkside Elementary, I don’t mind occasionally having to run over to drop off a lunch my child forgot, sign something or even just, occasionally, pick him up at the end of the day.

It’s usually a nice walk, and more importantly, I always see so many smiling faces, whether I’m walking to the front office or watching for my son as he pours out the doors at the end of the day with his pack of friends in the midst of a couple hundred students streaming for buses, crosswalks or parents’ vehicles.

Those Parksiders, their teachers, staff and administrators, have even more reason to smile having recently been awarded with a second Blue Ribbon School award, something only given to three schools in the state this year.

But they don’t need that extra reason to be happy — as Principal Jason Hillman reiterates, the school is devoted both to helping students be kind and achieve academic success.

A high achieving award like this proves that, but I like that in this world we live in, the school also has its focus on something as simple as kindness.

Of course, everyone should be proud of this honor, and not just those at the elementary school. As Hillman told the Tribune, appreciation should also go to the Parkside families who made it happen. I’d extend that appreciation to Park County School District 1 as a whole, with its culture of both high academic performance — Southside Elementary School is also a two-time Blue Ribbon School and Westside Elementary School and Powell Middle School have also won the honor — and of focusing on helping the families of Powell nurture our youth and create not just first-class students, but successful — and kind — men and women.

It’s just a bonus when a national organization or the federal government takes notice of what great schools we’ve got here.