Marion Elementary’s ‘Young Men of Honor’ recognized

The program aims to foster etiquette, respect and self confidence for the sixth-graders in the group.

The Belle Vernon Area school board recognized Marion Elementary students who are part of a school organization that aims to improve the etiquette of young boys.

Twenty-six sixth-graders who participate in Marion Elementary school’s “Young Men of Honor” were recognized and given a certificate during the board’s meeting Tuesday. Marion Assistant Principal Brendon Green, founder of the program, said he was happy to have the students recognized.

“We just wanted the opportunity to bring them in front of the community to explain what their group motto is, and just recognize them, because I’m very proud of each and every one of them for the hard work they’ve been doing this year and for just working towards their mission to make a difference in their school and the community,” Green said.

Green said this is the seventh year of the Young Men of Honor program at Marion. The program started when Green was a teacher at Marion in the 2018-19 school year.

Green and the students meet weekly during their lunch period and discuss the meaning of honor and empathy, how to be a leader and respect others, respecting women, self-confidence, hygiene, and other important topics.

At the end of each group session, Green sends students off with a mission statement that is based on a life skill they learned during their meeting. Green asks students to practice their mission statements with peers, families, or their outside community to improve their life skills.

Green added that another important topic for them is how to use technology and what role models to focus on.

“Kids today are so connected to social media and look to the influencers on there, Tik-Tok, Instagram, for what a good role model looks like,” he said. “And oftentimes, there can be positives there, but a lot of it is connected to whatever gets a good laugh. So we’re just trying to connect them back to not always looking into social media for good influences.”

The students in the program have taken part in multiple projects, like making cards and providing snacks to teachers, and will work with the Rostraver Police Department to plant flowers around the school this spring.

The program is currently only for sixth-graders, but Green says he has started an effort to extend it to other grades.

“My ultimate goal and vision for the group is to expand it into a curriculum that can reach all students, all male students, at all grade levels,” he said. “In January, I expanded to fifth grade, and that’s been the Young Men of Honor level one, and then this month, we’re going to expand to our primary students with Guys With Ties.”

He explained Guys With Ties will be an early exposure group focusing more on building positive friendships and being a young gentleman.

On Tuesday, the students in the program wore black BVA polo shirts donated by the school’s PTA group. Green said he was thankful for the shirts the students received and that they were excited to wear them.

“Every week when we meet, I challenge them to dress for success, and the boys have taken that on really well,” he said. “They’ll wear polos and khakis or jeans, and they kind of stand out from their peers on those days that they meet by dressing for success.”