Alexsandra Bello, Tequesta Trace Middle School
By C. Ron Allen
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Age: 13

School: Tequesta Trace Middle School

Grade: Eighth

Hometown: Pembroke Pines

Trait: Respect
Alexsandra Bello is a hard worker who sets an example for her peers at Tequesta Trace Middle School in Weston, her teachers say. She created an amazing PowerPoint game of Jeopardy! for a class project, they said. She also volunteers on weekends as a buddy to a disabled young girl in a softball league.

Teacher, Karen Allen: "She is an extremely hard-working student and sets an example for all of her classmates. She is selfless, always looking out for others. In the classroom, she is always helping others. I never see a frown on her face. She is enthusiastic and always passes that excitement on to others. She even takes the initiative to help others without anyone asking. This makes even the shyest or newest student feel welcome in the class."

Parent, Melissa Bello: "She is a dream. She is everything every parent would want in a child."

Alexsandra Bello: "I always go 110 percent over. That's just the way I am. [Also,] I am an athletic person so I am always happy to do something that helps the community, and when I heard it was with younger kids, that made me more happy because I love younger kids."

This is one in a series of stories on students who best exemplify the Broward County School District's eight character education traits -- cooperation, responsibility, citizenship, kindness, respect, honesty, self-control and tolerance -- and patriotism as part of all eight.

C. Ron Allen can be reached at crallen@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7917.