By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

ALABASTER – Five Chelsea students were lauded for their positive character traits at a Children’s Policy Council meeting on Dec. 17.

Students nominated from each of the five Shelby County schools in Chelsea received Character in Action awards in a presentation at Family Connection in Alabaster.

“I love to hear about the young students that are doing good, doing positive things,” Shelby County District Court Judge Jim Kramer said to the crowd, which included students’ family members, school administrators and local officials. “It really goes to show leadership. Great job, parents. We know they couldn’t do it without your example.”

SCS School Social Worker Emily Littrell introduced each student and his or her parents before reading comments from the students’ schools about their character and reasons they were nominated.

Chelsea High School 12th grader Jacob Giles was described has having “an excellent rapport with people of all ages,” “cheerful” and “trustworthy.”

Giles, the son of Clay and Renae Giles, is in the Peer Helpers program at CHHS and mentors other students at Chelsea Middle School.

“He also treats others fairly,” Jacob’s nomination form read.

Ty Adema, an eighth-grader at Chelsea Middle School, is “known to be polite and courteous to others” and is “constantly trying to help students without being asked,” according to his nomination form.

The son of William and Terry Adema, Ty is on the CHMS wrestling team and consistently displays a desire to do “what is best for the team.”

Forest Oaks Elementary School fifth grader Katelyn Shirley is the daughter of Allen and Kitty Shirley.

Katelyn “respects her peers,” works with the special education population at school and serves as a Peer Helper office aide.

“She makes it her business to make all of our students feel loved and included,” her nomination form read. “All she does exudes responsibility.”

Branah Jones, a fifth grader at Mt Laurel Elementary School, was noted for being respectful, responsible, motivated and determined.

She is the daughter of Albert and Pamela Jones and is a member of the Mt Laurel Nightingales choir.

“She knows what is expected of her,” Branah’s nomination form read. “She constantly chooses the hard right over the easy wrong. Students can look to her as a positive role model.”

Chelsea Park Elementary School fifth grader Alyssa Parker “always uses good manners” and is well organized, works hard every day and shares with others, according to her nomination.

She is the daughter of Reggie and Lexlie Parker and is a Peer Pal and a Chelsea Park Ranger.

Her nomination form also said Alyssa loves working with students and “is constantly helping others.”

“Alyssa will never leave a friend behind,” the form read.

Kramer said this is the second year the Children’s Policy Council has given monthly, non-academic Character in Action awards to local students.

“We try to establish a program that recognizes the children that we don’t see in the system for their good acts,” Kramer said.

The Children’s Policy Council is the product of a partnership created by Shelby County Juvenile Court, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and the schools, Littrell said.

Also present for the awards presentation Dec. 17 were Shelby County District Attorney Jill Lee and Shelby County Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lewis Brooks.