Middle Gate Elementary School students learned what it means to be a good citizen from community representatives at two Friday, February 19, Community Circle gatherings.

Some classes attended one Community Circle gathering while the rest of the school attended the other. At both assemblies, students learned about citizenship from State Senator Tony Hwang, First Selectman Pat Llodra, Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, local volunteer firefighter Bill McAllister, and police officer and Newtown Middle School School Resource Officer (SRO) William Chapman.

Middle Gate fourth grade teacher Linda Baron organized the Community Circle and introduced the students at the first gathering to the local community representatives.

"Each of them play a very special role in our lives," said Ms Baron.

Students took turns asking the visitors what their job is and what they think makes a good citizen.

"Even though we are young, what do you want us to know?" each student asked one of the visiting adults.

Dr Erardi described some parts of his job before saying, "My biggest job is to make sure that in every classroom that we have terrific teachers, and every teacher has a terrific mentor in the building principal… and every day every student [puts in their] best effort, all of the time."

When it comes to being a good citizen, Dr Erardi shared a memory of his mother, who once told him to imagine a person he loves is watching him, no matter what decision he is making. Whether it is their mom, dad, or someone else they love, Dr Erardi shared that same advice with the students. Dr Erardi said that advice makes him think about honesty and trust.

Mr McAllister said his job as a local firefighter "primarily is to keep everyone safe." He shared information about Newtown's five fire companies and reminded the students to go home and have parents check to see if the smoke detectors are working in their homes.

"Being a good person will make it easy to be a good citizen," said Mr McAllister, adding that he asks himself each night before going to bed whether he helped make the world a better place through his actions.

After sharing some of his duties as a police officer and as the NMS SRO, Officer Chapman said being a good citizen includes following rules. He also asked the students to raise their hands if they had ever been excited or scared about something. Many hands went up.

"We all have things that make us very happy, and we all have things that make us sad," Officer Chapman said.

Being a good citizen, he said, means remembering those commonalities and supporting friends and loved ones when they are happy and sad.

The first selectman said her job is to make sure everyone in Newtown has a place to live, grow, and thrive by focusing on public safety, recreation and culture, public works, and education.

Good citizens, Mrs Llodra said, should be honest, have compassion, respect themselves and the environment, and show responsibility and courage.

"That means doing the right thing even when it is hard to make your choice," said Mrs Llodra about courage.

After Sen Hwang explained his role in the community, he told the students the first two things they should do to be good citizens is take care of themselves and the people around them.

He also spoke about what it means to be a citizen in the United States of America, where the students are fans of local baseball teams, like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets. Hands went up among the students to show support for their favorite team.

"Are they still your friends?" Sen Hwang asked the assembly about students who might like a different team. "Yes!" the students responded.

Sen Hwang said the students live in a country where they can learn and share different ideas, "and we celebrate that."

At the end of the first assembly a number of students were recognized through the school's Ben's Bells program for having a number of qualities that make them good citizens.

A room at the school was also set up with projects completed by students throughout the grade levels on what it means to be a good citizen. For example, first grade projects shared what it meant to "be a better me" at home, in school, and in the community, while third grade projects shared different ways to be a good citizen.

"Be honest," "clean up after yourself," "empathy," "thoughtful," "say hi," "be nice to your teacher," and "a good citizen has a heart," were just some of the things students wrote on their projects.