Hagemann Elementary School has been selected by the Do the Right Thing Program of Greater St. Louis Inc. as the 2008-2009 Missouri School of the Year.

Hagemann Elementary School officials were presented with the award at the program’s 2009-2010 Kickoff Breakfast last Friday at St. Louis Community College-Forest Park.

“Our Do the Right Thing success is brought about by the staff’s belief in recognizing our students for their kind acts,” Hagemann Principal Scott Andrews stated in a news release issued by the Mehlville School District. “It’s a whole-school effort — all of our staff takes time to recognize our students for treating each other with respect and kindness.”

The Do the Right Thing Program selected Hagemann to receive this honor because the school submitted more student nominations to the program in the past year than any other school in the state.

“Hagemann set an excellent example for all school districts by their commitment to character education in their school community,” Do the Right Thing Program Di-rector Candy Green stated in the release.

The Missouri School of the Year Award was presented to Andrews, counselor Carrie Rudy and secretary Brenda Griffin by St. Louis County Chief of Police Tim Fitch and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief Tim Reagan.

Besides two plaques and a banner, the school received a $500 check from the Do the Right Thing Program.

The mission of the Do the Right Thing Program is to recognize and encourage pupils for the good things they do and for making good character choices.

For additional information about the program, visit

or call Green at (314) 303-6349.