The Otter of the Week: Recognizing Everyday Moments

In school life, it is often the small everyday moments that matter most: helping a classmate, showing courage to try something new, or persevering when things don’t go as planned. These moments shape how children grow, learn, and feel at school.

At BASIS Prague, we place just as much value on character as we do on academic achievement. The Otter of the Week is one way we celebrate this.

Appreciating Everyday Acts of Kindness

Some of the most important learning at school doesn’t come from tests or assignments—it happens in the way children treat one another.

Throughout the week, students can be recognized by their teachers with Shining Otter Tickets. These are given when children demonstrate the values we care about most: respect, kindness, courage, flexibility, resourcefulness, and resilience.

It might be something as simple as helping a classmate who is stuck, speaking up during a presentation despite feeling unsure, or trying again after something didn’t work the first time.

Every Friday, all tickets are entered into a small school draw. One student from each Level is selected and awarded the Otter of the Week certificate. For the children, it is a moment of excitement—but, more importantly, a visible reminder that everyday effort and positive behavior truly matter.

Why the Otter?

The otter is the mascot of BASIS schools—curious, playful, adaptable, and always willing to explore its environment. These are the same qualities we aim to nurture in our students.

This year, we have extended that idea beyond the classroom. Our school has adopted a North American river otter at the Prague Zoo.

In doing so, the otter has become more than a symbol of our school—it is now also a connection to the natural world and a reminder of our responsibility beyond it.