Students created different medals for the winner of Brufftopia’s March Book Madness. Students were encouraged to think about important class goals, learning objectives, and the class culture.

The Chenberry Medal

The Chenberry Medal may sound like a peculiar name for winning a book tournament. However, the name, Chenberry, has an intriguing background. Each year, I write stories that include:

• all the students in the class,
• adaptations of their personalities,
• conflicts or issues they learned from throughout the school year, and
• a tropical island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Brufftopia is the island where learning is most valued.

In last year’s class story, students read and learned how chenberries spread throughout the entire island through carelessness. Brufftopians from the story refused to put aside their issues and work together. By the end of the class story, we learned no matter how difficult something is, any progress forward is better than doing nothing or moving backwards.

Chenberries symbolize our class culture. In class we believe every step towards progress is a good step. When you read the class story you will see Chenberries symbolize positive energy growing from something negative.

The Winning Medal

Julia’s Description

1. I drew the book to show how we honor this book, and read a lot, but also to show Brufftopia’s 2016-17 students.
2. I drew the lock and key to show that knowledge is locked, and the key to it is a growth mindset.
3. I drew the plant to show our growth mindset grows bit by bit like a plant.
4. I drew the lines to show that we are unpredictable.
5. I drew the scale to show we value balance.
6. I drew the clocks to show we value time.
7. I drew the triangle with spikes to show how we think in all directions, but still angle our thoughts to make our point.
8. I drew the pencils and paper to show how we jot down our thoughts.
9. I drew the peace sign to show we aim to relieve stress.