High fives, applause, cheers. These are just a few of the things that a handful of Marlborough Elementary students got to experience on the morning of February 1st. They paraded through the halls like a victorious Eagles team returning to Philadelphia as Super Bowl champs.

Every month, the whole of Marlborough Elementary gathers to honor and encourage students who serve as positive examples for their classmates. This “Manners Matter at Marlborough” (3M) celebration recognizes a student from each homeroom and special area class that represents the word of the previous month—in January’s case, “encouragement.” Previous months’ words and phrases include “positive attitude,” “kindness,” “responsibility,” and “acceptance.”

Teachers nominate a 3M student every month. In addition to parading throughout the halls and being cheered on by the entire school, the selected students have their name announced, receive a certificate of accomplishment, and get their picture displayed on the 3M wall for a month.