FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Amy Lewandowski
Phone: 972-723-7033
Fax: 800-430-3226
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WWW.PEPWEAR.COM

PepWear Congratulates Venus Middle School students who achieved PRIDE in the 1st Six Weeks!





Venus, TX. October 30, 2008 – PepWear would like to congratulate all Venus Middle School students who achieved their P.R.I.D.E. goals in the 1st six weeks.  Venus Middle School celebrated the students’ achievements on Friday, October 10th with a rally, t-shirts and a contest for an IPod and $30 ITunes gift card. 

Students at Venus Middle School are rewarded every six weeks for practicing P.R.I.D.E., which stands for Personal Responsibility In Daily Efforts.  Students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades are rewarded for meeting the following criteria: pass all classes, overall average of 85 or higher, no tardies, no more than two excused absences, no unexcused absences and no office referrals.  Each six weeks, the school holds a P.R.I.D.E. rally and students who meet the criteria are rewarded with a P.R.I.D.E. t-shirt. 

“The students are so excited about the program!  When the end of the six weeks is near, they check to ensure they have no tardies, have turned in a note for all absences, double check their grades, and make sure they are responsible for themselves! They are excited and look forward to being recognized for their P.R.I.D.E.  The PRIDE t-shirts are V.M.P., very valuable possessions, which they earn by being responsible,” said Jill Bottelberghe, Principal of Venus Middle School.

The program was initiated last year to inspire the students and has been very successful, according to Bottelberghe.  A board hangs in the hallway with shirts from last year attached, reminding students of their previous achievements. 
Last year, the school awarded 800 shirts.  “We awarded 214 students with t-shirts during the first six weeks.  This is well over half of our student body!” said Bottleberghe.

The shirts are different every six weeks and are created by the award winning graphic design team at PepWear.  “We create a unique design for each rally so students will really desire the new shirt and strive harder to reach their goals,” said Becky Seeton, Sales Manager at PepWear.

In addition to receiving their shirts, students were randomly chosen to participate in a game of musical chairs with a teacher of their choosing.  In the end, only one student was left standing – Angel Cobos, sixth grade.  In addition to his t-shirt, he won an IPod and a $30 ITunes gift card.

PepWear created and printed the P.R.I.D.E. rally shirts, and EOG Resources in Venus helped make this program possible by sponsoring the shirts.

For additional information on PepWear, contact Amy Lewandowski at 972-723-7033, amy@pepwear.com or visit WWW.PEPWEAR.COM.

For additional information on the PRIDE program, contact Jill Bottelbeghe at 972-366-3358, jbottelberghe@venusisd.net or visit http://www.venusisd.net/venusms/site/default.asp.




ABOUT PepWear - Since 1987, PepWear has been celebrating the achievements of young people by providing custom, personalized commemorative T-shirts, plaques and other merchandise at events and by special order.   We can screenprint or embroider custom apparel and promotional products designed by the customer or by our award winning, in-house graphic design team.