A few notes regarding some happenings in area schools…

Turner Gill may be done coaching games for the Jayhawks this year, but he’ll keep busy preaching character to students — and perhaps even some future recruits.

Kansas head coach Turner Gill calls a timeout against Georgia Tech during the second quarter, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 at Kivisto Field.

Gill, head football coach at Kansas University, will be guest speaker for Thursday morning’s Character Counts assembly at New York School, 936 N.Y.

The monthly assembly is a chance for teachers and administrators to recognize New York students for demonstrating trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring or citizenship. Eleven students will be honored Thursday morning, chosen from among the 205 students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade.

Each winner will be photographed with Gill, whose Jayhawks finished 3-9 in his first year on campus.

“We talk a lot about perseverance, and to keep trying whenever things get hard — he might have some insights into that — and that good character is what you do when nobody is watching,” said Nancy DeGarmo, principal at New York. “Those are the two key things I stress at each assembly.”

Such events come with some stellar pomp and circumstance. Students enter the gymnasium serenaded by the theme from “Star Wars,” the school’s unofficial theme song, and each winner receives a paper certificate and a mini light saber, a.k.a. a glow stick on a string.

“Because we’re the New York Knights — and many kids don’t relate to a knight in shining armor — we talk about being Jedi Knights, and what it means to be a Jedi Knight,” DeGarmo said. “They walk away with a mini glow stick. The force is with them.”

The assembly starts at 9 a.m. Thursday.

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A teacher or paraeducator in the Lawrence school district who goes “the extra mile” helping kids who need such assistance most because of special life challenges will be honored with a special award and $5,000 prize by the time winter break arrives.

But anyone wanting to nominate an exceptional educator better work fast.

Nominations will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. today for the Special Award for Dedication to Education, organized through the Lawrence Schools Foundation.

Letters should be addressed to Rick Doll, superintendent of schools, and sent in care of Julie Boyle, the district’s director of communications. Letters may be e-mailed to jboyle@usd497.org.

Nominees must be, according to Susan Esau, the foundation’s executive director:

• A certified teacher or paraeducator.

• Currently employed by the district.

• Supporting the district’s goal of Learning for All by doing “whatever it takes” to ensure that challenged and/or disadvantaged students learn.

• Dedicated to the success of every student.

The award is supported by donations from an anonymous group of donors: the sons of the Lawrence men who already had established the “Bob’s Award,” which honors an outstanding educator at the end of each school year with a $10,000 prize.

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District administrators and leaders of the Lawrence Education Association are continuing their negotiations regarding a work contract for teachers.

Upcoming meetings, which are open to the public:

• 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 6, in the library at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive.

• 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 8, in the board meeting room at district headquarters, 110 McDonald Drive.

— Do you know of something going on in area schools? Please educate me: mfagan@ljworld.com