2024-2025 Fifth Grade Honorees and essays

“If you could invent a “Character Superhero,’ and character traits are the super powers, what super power would your Superhero have, and why?”

Superheroes are regular people with extraordinary powers.  My favorite superhero is Batman.  I like many others, but for me it’s Batman’s character that stands out the most.  Being brave, showing that he’s a friend to everyone and being respectful to all, are character traits I see whenever I see or think of Batman.

Bravery is a feeling in your mind and body that is needed when helping others out of dangerous situations.  My superhero helps people when they are in danger, like an apartment building that may be on fire or someone who may be drowning.  Sometimes it may be very complicated when there are people in real danger, but when there is a need to help, showing a sense of bravery is always a positive character trait to have. 

Being a friend is when you care enough to show others that you care. Caring is kindness. When you show kindness to others, you show them that you’re willing to be a friend. Friendly people help others to be friendly people.  Batman walks around showing kindness and being a friend to everyone.

Respect is when you treat people the way you would like to be treated. It’s knowing and showing that what others think and how they feel matters. We’re all different and should respect each other’s differences. Batman respects differences and cares enough to make sure that differences are respected by others.  

Now you see why Batman is my favorite. As he gets older, he’s preparing others to be superheroes just like him.

"You find a magic mirror that shows you your best character trait whenever you look into it.  What character trait do you see? Explain why it’s your best trait."

If I found a magic mirror that shows my best character traits, I would probably see “caring” and “responsible” in my reflection.  Caring is one of the traits I would see because my parents always taught me to care about others and their feelings.  Caring for others shows compassion for them, but it still makes me feel good about myself knowing I considered someone else and their feelings.  I would say that I am an empathetic person.  Every day is not the same, so sometimes, people need to know that someone else cares about their feelings and what they are going through.  Something as simple as saying “hello” can make someone feel better about their day.  When I see someone having a bad day, I go out of my way to put a smile on their face or let them know I care.  I think it’s important to care about other people’s feelings, just as I would want someone to care about mine.  On my rainy days, it makes me feel better when someone takes time to show me they care.  

Being a caring person is also being a responsible person.  It shows responsibility in the sense that you are taking it upon yourself to show others you care.  I have two younger siblings who I help take care of and make sure they are safe and happy, and it’s my responsibility as their big sister to care enough about them to make sure I teach them right from wrong.

"You’ve been chosen to travel to a distant planet and teach aliens about good character.  What would you teach them?"

Stranded

Let’s imagine a scenario where you crash on a planet out of this solar system. You meet some aliens, and they don’t exactly know how to be a helpful part of the community. What will you teach them? I would teach them respect, self-discipline, and integrity. 

First, I’ll teach them respect. If any civilization is going to survive, respect is a priority. Respect is important to show in many situations, especially in how we as humans treat one another. A civilization without respect would crumble because, if we never have respect, everyone will treat each other terribly.  Respect is a trait that we should all exhibit.  

Additionally, I’ll teach them self-discipline. One may wonder why self-discipline.  If we live in a world only doing and getting what we want it would ruin our society.  There would be a lack of productivity, and many greedy people have everything, and do nothing.  In self-discipline, even the little things make a big difference, and it is a benefit for all who have it.

Furthermore, I will teach them integrity. Integrity is important because it means you always do the right thing, even if it’s small.  It matters most when nobody sees you.  Making the right choice can be difficult at times, but the result of doing right will always be more satisfying. 

To conclude, if I crashed on an alien planet, I would teach the aliens in both word and action, respect, self-discipline, and integrity.  Come help me?

"You find a magic mirror that shows you your best character trait whenever you look in it.  What character trait do you see? Explain why it’s your best trait."

As I was walking through the forest, lo and behold, in amazement, I saw this elegant tree laying in the middle of the forest. Right away I knew this couldn’t be any old regular tree. The tree was surrounded by a meadow of beautiful vibrant purple flowers stretching as far as the eye could see. There was just one dirt path in the center of the meadow leading up to the tree. I followed this path and once I made it to the front of this mysterious tree, I was confronted with a reflection of myself.

There it hung, a massive mirror on the tree with gold trimming. Engraved in this trimming were the words, “Test Your Trait.” As I looked into the mirror, lo and behold it revealed my best character trait in big, bold letters; EMPATHY.  This trait allows me to connect with others on a deeper level. Understanding their emotions and perspectives. Empathy is not just about feeling sympathy for others, but also about truly stepping into their shoes and responding with kindness and support. I have found that being empathetic has allowed me to form meaningful relationships and create environments where people feel heard and understood.     

One reason empathy stands out as my best trait is because it helps me navigate both personal and serious interactions with greater ease. Whether I’m helping a friend through a tough time or working on a project; I will listen carefully, offer support, and make sure their voices are heard. Having empathy helps me to be more patient and non-judgmental. 

"You find a magic mirror that shows you your best character trait whenever you look into it. What character trait do you see? Explain why it’s your best trait."

Creativity: My Best Trait

If I found a magic mirror that showed me my best character trait, I think it would show me creativity. Creativity is my best trait because it helps me see the world differently and solve problems in ways that others might not think of. Whether it is coming up with a unique idea for a class project or figuring out how to fix a broken toy, my creativity allows me to think outside the box.

Last year, I did a class presentation on the Boston Tea Party. Instead of just talking about it, I brought in a toy boat and a bucket of water to represent Boston Harbor. I even gave my whole class tea packets so they could pretend to be part of the event. Everyone got a chance to throw their tea bags into the "ocean," just like the colonists did! My classmates loved it, and my teacher said it was one of the most creative presentations she had ever seen.

Creativity is not just about making cool projects; it is about imagining new possibilities. When my friends and I play games, I always invent fun rules or twists that make the game more exciting. Sometimes, I use my creativity to help others, like when I helped my little cousin turn an old cardboard box into a rocket ship for his school project.

Being creative makes me happy because it allows me to express myself and help others see things in a new way. If I looked into the magic mirror, I would be proud to see creativity reflected at me. It’s what makes me unique!

"You’ve been chosen to travel to a distant planet and teach aliens about good character.  What would teach them?"

If I could visit a new planet and teach aliens one important characteristic, I would teach them kindness. Kindness is something that makes life better for everyone. It helps us solve problems, make friends, and show love. But what if the aliens didn’t know what kindness was? I think teaching them kindness would help them survive and love just like it helps us here on Earth. 

Where I grew up in Africa, kindness was a big part of life. In my community, people always helped each other. If someone needed food or a place to stay, there was always someone who would offer it. People didn’t fight or argue much because kindness was everywhere. Because of that, I grew up believing that everyone has kindness in their heart, even if they don’t always show it. Sometimes people just need a little help to let their kindness shine. Aliens might be very different from humans, but maybe they live in communities like we do. Maybe they need to work together and communicate to survive. But what if they don’t know what kindness is? 

Some people might think aliens don’t need kindness, but I believe they do. Without kindness, they might only show anger or be mean to each other. Teaching them kindness could help them solve problems and work together peacefully. Without kindness, their world might be filled with hate and fights. But with kindness, they could create friendships, solve problems, and even learn to love one another.  

In conclusion, growing up in Africa taught me how important kindness is. If I could travel to a new planet, I would teach aliens kindness because it’s something that everyone needs no matter where they live. Kindness helps us survive and create a better world. If aliens could learn kindness, it might help them live happier lives, just like it does for us here on Earth. 

“You find a magic mirror that show you your best character trait whenever you look into it.  What character trait do you see?  Explain why it’s your best trait.”

There are many kinds of magic in the world. The best kind of magic shows you the magic inside of yourself. When I first heard of a magic mirror that shows your best traits I thought it would show me how brave I am. Bravery is a great trait, but the mirror only shows your best trait. Imagine my surprise when it showed me compassion instead.

“What is compassion?”, you may ask. I wondered the same thing. I knew compassion meant having sympathy or empathy for others. When I looked it up, I read that compassion temporarily suspends judgement so that you can see someone else's perspective even when it is different from yours. I started to understand why the mirror showed me that this is my best trait.

Compassion is a trait that helps you understand others better. When you understand why someone feels the way that they do, it’s easier to help them feel better. Being compassionate makes me a better person because it makes me more forgiving. Compassion helps people build better relationships and by being compassionate, I can teach others to do the same.

It always bothered me when I saw someone being treated unfairly. I didn't know that this was a form of compassion. When I see something that I know is wrong, my compassion makes me want to speak out and help right that wrong.

Compassion is my best trait. Finding the magic mirror showed me that compassion is a great strength to have. Having compassion can help make all of your other character traits even better. Even if you can’t change a situation, compassion teaches you to speak up and find a way to make things better.

“Write about a time when you helped someone without being asked.  How did it make you feel, and why is helping others important?”

A time when I helped someone without being asked was for my mother’s birthday. I cleaned the entire house for her. I washed the dishes, swept the floor, and did everything that needed to be done. My mom was surprised, very happy, and she laughed with delight. I told my mother that I cleaned the house as a gift to her for her birthday. I told her this was the best gift, because It was given, without being asked for. 

Cleaning the house for my mom, made me feel really good, inside. I would compare this feeling  to a  bright rainbow in the sky. They are alike because their beauty causes people to stop and admire them. Something that stood out and made me most happy was the smile on my mom’s face. I love my mom very much, and seeing her happy meant everything to me. Being happy is not just an emotion that you can feel, it’s one that you can share with others. This can brighten their day. I am always glad to help others, by sharing happiness. 

Helping others is important because it can and will make a difference in someone’s day and life. If you take the time to help someone, without being asked, there are many positive things that can happen. In my case, my mom didn’t have to worry about cleaning, for her birthday. This made her very happy. When someone sees you helping others, without being asked, it may encourage them to help someone else in the same way. Helping others without being asked is a way to be kind, because kindness really does matter!

“You’ve been chosen to travel to a distant planet and teach aliens about good character.  What would you teach them?”

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! Blast off! That’s what will happen when I go to see and teach the aliens on Mercury.  The goal is to teach them good character traits. This is making me scream with joy!

The first character trait I would teach the aliens is kindness. Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate.  Everybody needs kindness, even the aliens.  By showing kindness you can gain many new peers.  This will help you connect with others better.  When you become kind, it will gain you respect.  

The second character trait I would teach the aliens is respect.  Respect is a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities or achievements. By showing respect you can gain loyal friends.  This will help you become more respectful to others.  When you’re respectful you’re showing that you care for others.

The final character trait I would teach the aliens is leadership. Leadership is the action of leading a group of people or an organization.  Leadership is very helpful to know so that you understand and respect the leaders that help you.  Many people can be leaders, including you.  You can be the leader of your school or project. You need to be able to work well with others, listen to others opinion and use their advice.

In conclusion, teaching the aliens will help them. By knowing kindness, respect and leadership they will soon become better citizens of Mercury.

“You find a magic mirror that shows you your best character trait whenever you look into it.  What character trait do you see? Explain why it’s your best trait.”

It was a warm Saturday afternoon. I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. There was a U-Haul truck in one of the neighbor's houses. They were moving so I asked if they needed help since they were old. The lady smiled and said that would be nice. As I finished helping move the last box in the truck the lady told me she had a gift for me. I was happy to hear that and asked her what kind of gift she had for me. She gave me a long box and told me to open it when I got home. I rushed home thinking it was a huge toy, but it was only a dirty mirror.

My dad hung the mirror up on the wall in my room. The mirror was dirty, so I tried to clean it. As soon as I finished cleaning it, I heard a voice say thank you. I was shocked that it was a talking mirror. I told my sister to come in my room to hear the mirror talk. She thought I was crazy when I tried to show her, and the mirror did not speak. Soon as she left the mirror whispered saying no one should know it can talk to me. I made a promise to keep it a secret and the magic mirror promised to reveal character traits that describe me.

I woke up the next morning and ran to my magic mirror, but to my surprise the mirror did not talk. I was certain I did not mention that the mirror could talk to anyone, but I was destined to know what character traits described me. I waited and waited but still nothing. I gave up!

Finally, it dawned on me that I did not need the mirror to describe my character trait. I looked into the mirror and saw a reflection of a young man that is caring. I am caring because I take time to listen to my elders and peers' concerns. I always offer a helping hand. I encourage others to be kind-hearted. These are reasons why caring is my best character trait. I looked deep into the mirror and smiled as I turned around to walk away from the mirror knowing that I have a positive character trait that others and I admire.

“You find a magic mirror that shows you your best character trait whenever you look into it.  What character trait do you see?  Explain why it’s your best trait.”

Hello, my name is Tristan Dixon, and If I were to look into a magic mirror, I would see "Kindness" as my best character trait. Kindness is the quality that allows me to act with compassion; it shapes how I handle challenges and resolve conflicts, hoping to make others feel important and supported. Kindness isn’t just about being nice in the moment. It's about consistency, empathy, and showing care over time. If my kindness were to be reflected in the magic mirror, it would highlight my transformative power in the way I show respect for my peers, stand up against bullying, share my time with others, show respect towards adults, and work with my classmates on group projects and studying together. The magic mirror would also show how my kindness powers help my mom at home by doing my chores. In addition to helping my mom, I help my baby brother and sister tie their shoes and pick up their toys at home.  Kindness doesn’t just improve the lives of others; it often has a ripple effect, inspiring more kindness in return.  

Kindness is a trait that can break down social, emotional, or personal walls and create places where people feel safe and valued. The beauty of kindness is simple- it's a world language that does not require perfection, just people being honest. I hope my kindness will encourage others to see kindness in their magic mirror and transform the lives of others, one person at a time.

“You’ve been chosen to travel to a distant planet and teach aliens about good character.  What would you teach them?”

My Journey to Teach Aliens

Today, March 28, I am going to a faraway planet called Valensun. I am going to teach galactic doll aliens good character. I am flying in a UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon) to get there. I am bringing my camera, lots of food and water. I am also bringing my trusty gadgets. It is currently 12:02 am; I have just reached Valensun. There are no aliens in sight. First, I pulled out one of my trusty gadgets to help me find them. The planet looks weird. It is dark blue with neon green igloos. This gadget tracks the aliens for me. It says the aliens are over the hill, but I have been climbing for hours with no aliens in sight. Finally, I reached the top and found the aliens. They are small aliens, and out of control. They are running around, jumping up and down, and screaming. 

They have girls and boys. The girls have half red and half yellow hair. The boys have orange hair. They look like dolls with make-up on and duck lips. They have cool, different color rainbow tuxedos on. Girls have on pink shorts and the boys wear blue shorts. They both have green skin. It turns out they speak a secret code language that’s unheard of. It’s been three days. It’s now March 31. In their language Hcram 13. Everything is backwards in their language. I found out that the boys and girls have different powers. The boys have the power of telekinesis, and the girls have the power of mindreading. 

The aliens need to learn to be kind to one another. Let’s start with when your friend falls down, you don’t laugh. You help them up. You should not talk badly about people; use only kind, uplifting words. You always say thank you when you are gifted something, or somebody got something for you. You need to make sure you say yes, sir, no sir, yes ma’am, or no ma’am. You always need to share. That’s being kind. It was rough at first, but then they finally got it. Now we are having some fun, and riding go-karts. We are like a family. 

Today is April15. It is time for me to go home. I am going to miss them, but who knows, maybe I’ll be back soon.  I will be taking the UAP all the way home. “Goodbye friends”.

It is April 16, and I have made it back home. It went phenomenal, and I can’t wait to visit again. 

“You find a magic mirror that shows you your best character trait whenever you look into it.  What character trait do you see?  Explain why it’s your best trait.”

Mirror of Dedication

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the most dedicated of them all? The magic mirror of truth never lies. When I look in the mirror dedication is what I see. Dedication is my best character trait because it’s what drives me the most. Dedication is the secret ingredient for all other character traits, which makes it the best one to have. What I mean by this is you can’t be reliable without being dedicated. You can’t be patient without being dedicated. To be dedicated means to put time and effort into yourself to complete a particular goal or task. I, Ivy Kaye Green, am dedicated. It is not always about being good at something, but In order to be great, you must be dedicated to the purpose. Everything that is worth the time and energy requires some type of dedication. Dedicated individuals, like myself, along with our teachers and doctors are the perfect example. Dedicated individuals make the world a thriving place. 

Magic Mirror, when I look in you what do I see? I see myself one of the most dedicated girls I know. I see a girl who is committed to her goals and responsibilities. I see a girl who is always going the extra mile and following through with all of my goals. I see a girl who takes initiative. I see Sheridan Elementary Schools Student council president and oratory finalist, all of which would not be possible without dedication. 

“Write about a time when you helped someone without being asked.  How did it make you feel, and why is helping others important?”

The time I helped someone without being asked is when my mother brought groceries from the store. Helping her made me feel incredibly happy, because when I saw my mom smile it made me feel warm inside. Helping others can make a significant difference for the community. Being helpful can put a smile on people's faces and it is a good deed. You can help someone fix their car, cut that person's yard, or help someone clean their room. There are many things you can do to help people, it is just spreading love, joy, and happiness.  

Another time I helped someone without being asked was taking the trash out. Taking the trash out is important because the trash will start piling up. I also sometimes do laundry without being asked to. Doing the laundry is also important because I love helping my mom, and it helps me with organizing. Helping around the house is showing an act of kindness, and responsibility.  While at school I help my classmates clean up, as well as passing out work for my teachers, and putting Chromebooks up. 

I also pick up loose trash from off the ground in our yard.  Keeping the yard clean makes it easier for my dad and I when it is time to cut the grass or do yard work. Cleaning up your room is important because if someone walks in your room and gets hurt, they will blame it on you.  Not keeping your room clean can take away some special privileges like going to fun places, missing a game, and no electronics.  I always try to help others without being asked because it puts a big smile on their face.   

“If you could invent a “Character Superhero,” and character traits are the superpowers, what superpower would your Superhero have, and why?”

A Call for Superheroes

Joyful Jill is a Superhero who has the superpowers of kindness, respect, and helpfulness. I like each superpower she possesses because it helps the world in a useful way like picking up trash or helping an elderly person and most of all helping others in need. Joyful Jill helps the world by showing Kindness. Kindness allows her to have better self-esteem and feel more confident. She also shows respect. Respectfulness allows people to receive new opportunities and set off to make new goals and Jill’s Helpfulness allows support to help everyone around her improve and progress.

Each superpower can make a difference in our nation and help improve politically and in many ways. Many people all over the world show these superpowers every day, which will support each of these amazing superpowers or one-of-a-kind abilities. Each of us has a special power that fits just right, like how you have clothes that fit you just right. Think about it, what are your superpowers that will help the world? Are you using them wisely? If you use them, can they help?

In conclusion people like you can help others show and recognize how much they can help the world by being an example. Joyful Jill was born with her superpower for a reason, which is to help make her community better. Joyful Jill likes to help other superheroes on their own mission to help others succeed in day to day tasks. We should all spread our superpowers and fill the world with Love and Positivity.

If you could invent a “Character Superhero,” and character traits are the super powers, what super power would your Superhero have, and why?

If I could invent a superhero, his name would be “Black Adams”.  One of my superhero’s super powers would be honesty.  Black Adams’ superpower would be honesty because he can put on special glasses and tell if you’re being honest or not.  Black Adams is a superhero who can save you from danger, sadness, and more, if you are an honest person.  Hard work is also one of his super powers.  Being hard working is a good trait for Black Adams because it adds to the powers that he already has. Hard work is the best super power that any super hero could have.  Black Adams is a fun guy.  Saving the day is his favorite thing to do in any given day.  Having honesty and being hard working are two great characteristics for a super hero.  Black Adams’ wardrobe is a suit that can save you from anything! He can stop trains from crashing and buildings from falling.  He can fly and he has super strength.  Black Adams can do many things but he sometimes needs help from other super heroes to fight bad people and to save the world.  He realizes that no matter how strong we are, sometimes we need each other’s help to do good in this world.  Anything is possible when we help each other! Lastly, being honest, hardworking, and getting help and strength from other super heroes, in my opinion, makes Black Adams the greatest super hero of all! 

“If you could invent a “Character Superhero,” and character traits are the super powers, what super power would your Superhero have, and why?”

Intelli God: A Super Smart Hero

If I could create a superhero, I'd give them a super smart brain. This super brain would let them know everything and see the future. They could solve hard problems and stop bad things from happening.

I'd name this superhero Intelli God. They would be so smart, they could protect people from danger, like stopping a thief or saving people from a big storm. They would be really good at thinking and figuring things out.

This super smart hero could help the whole world. They could find cures for illnesses, like cancer, and make the world a better place. Imagine a world where everyone is smart and kind.

Intelli God would be a hero for everyone. They would use their super brain to help people and make the world a better place.

One day, Intelli God might use their super brain to invent a machine that can clean up pollution. Or maybe they could create a special kind of food that could make everyone healthy and strong. With a super smart brain, the possibilities are endless.

Intelli God would be more than just a superhero; they would be a symbol of hope and intelligence. They would show us that with smart thinking and a kind heart, we can overcome any challenge.