St. Mary’s School student Peyton McElhone is known around the school as a hard worker with a great attitude and personality.

She has made an especially good impression on Assistant Principal Christa Jackson.

“Peyton has all the qualities that if I had a daughter, I would want her to have,” said Jackson. “The thing that always impresses me about Peyton is the kind of character she has.”

The fifth-grader is polite, kind and helpful, Jackson continued.

Peyton said she just enjoys being nice.

“If have you have a good character, most everybody will like you and you can help a lot of people,” she said. “If somebody is real sad and you help them, it makes you feel good.”

Jackson credits Peyton’s parents, P.J. and Stephanie McElhone, with teaching their daughter good values.

Peyton agreed that her family is an important part of her life.

“I really like my family,” she said, mentioning her parents and her brother, Rome High student Brennan.

Between family activities, schoolwork and after-school hobbies, Peyton stays busy.

While maintaining “very good grades,” Jackson said, Peyton has excelled in gymnastics.

She began taking classes at the YMCA three years ago to complement her soccer skills. Soon, she had dropped soccer and was concentrating on becoming a better gymnast.

Peyton said she is always pushing herself to do better, particularly in her favorite event, the vault.

“It’s fun,” she said. “I’ve met some friends there that I really like. You get to move a lot. You get to do it inside and it’s a lot cooler.”