"Do The Right Thing"
Recognizing and Rewarding our Children for Positive Behavior, Accomplishments, and Good Deeds
Goals of the B-W School District along with the Parent Group are:
1. To reinforce social desirable behavior among young people
2. To demonstrate that “good kids” are newsworthy
3. To foster positive relations between police officers and youths
Mission Statement:
The purpose of Do The Right Thing (DTRT) of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District is to recognize and reward our youth for their exemplary behavior, accomplishments, and good deeds through partnerships with our three local police departments (Whitehall, Baldwin Township, and Baldwin Borough.) The DTRT Awards Program distinguishes exceptional school-age children who choose to be drug and crime free, exhibit non-violent behavior, do well in school, make a difference in their communities, and demonstrate turnaround behavior. Each month of the school year, parents, police officers, teachers, and other adults nominate children for “doing the right thing.” A selection committee then reviews the nominations, during the third week of each month, and selects up to ten finalists for the month who are honored at a ceremony.
Joining Forces for a Better Tomorrow:
The idea for the Do The Right Thing Program was born in 1990 during a Miami Police Department awards ceremony when a teenager was recognized by the Chief of Police for turning in a loaded gun he found at his school. Community volunteers, who witnessed the impact of the positive recognition given to this teenager, decided to join forces with the Miami Police Department and develop an ongoing recognition program for students.
Today, Do The Right Thing is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing and rewarding school-age youth for positive accomplishments, behavior, and good deeds. The program ensures that young people are not only rewarded for “doing the right thing,” but also are publicly recognized as role models for their peers.
Giving our Young People the Recognition they Deserve:
Everyone needs to be recognized now and then for doing something good. That is exactly what Do The Right Thing is all about. Each month, in Miami alone, up to 1,000 students are nominated by teachers, parents, police, and other adults in the community for their good deeds and/or positive behavior.
With the assistance of a selection committee, up to ten students monthly will be chosen as top winners. They will be invited to a monthly Board meeting to be recognized and awarded certificates and/or prizes, donated by area businesses.