Anticipation ran rampant in the Bermuda Institute gymnasium as kindergarten through P6 squirmed in their seats, eyeing the stage waiting for the assembly they were promised.

The tension broke as the first strains of R. Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly came wafting over the sound system and raucous laughter filled the air as a young, boy puppet popped up from behind the boards.

Clapping their hands and singing along, the Clearwater Puppeteer Company had instantly won over their crowd and had the children intimately involved from the beginning.

Anthony Peets — though everyone, students and teachers alike, refer to him as Mr. Peets — is a counsellor at Clearwater Middle School and the driving force behind the puppeteers.

Mr. Peets exudes an energy as both the spokesman and a puppeteer that the children thrive on and respond to.

After performing as a puppeteer in the R. Kelly song, Mr. Peets joined the assembly to ask the students if anyone knew what it means to fly?

Hands and students shot into the air eager to attempt an answer.

One student said: "To float in the air."

Another: "It means I can fly up into heaven."

Mr. Peets enthusiastically accepted the responses and added: "I know this — I can fly cause every day because it's about spreading joy to everyone.

"You can fly if you do the right thing."

The puppeteers practice what they preach.

Formed from students in their final year of Clearwater Middle School, Mr. Peets makes sure that they commit themselves to excellence in character and in school.

Perhaps that is why of the 14 students that perform for the puppeteers seven are prefects and all of the students are on the honour roll.

Sharon Bean even received straight A's last semester.

The Clearwater Puppet Company began in 1997 after a group of kids not getting along with their advisory teacher spoke to Mr. Peets and he came up with the idea of the puppets to help kids deal with issues.

"We kept it a secret for six months until we performed it for the kids at school," Mr. Peets said. "They thought we were from overseas."

Their message is clear — we need to impart values both personal and pure, such as excellence, to our children.

The Company tries to work with the schools that they visit to address a particular issue that they are facing — from gangs to the death of a teacher.

Mr. Peets said: "We prepare shows differently for different schools and find out about the school beforehand and try to use the students' names to make a connection with the students."

On Tuesday at Bermuda Institute, it was no different.

The students were told: "Choose friends wisely. That's why my girlfriend is Chelsea."

A roar came from the sixth grade as Chelsea was singled out.

Other advice included to always share, that if one has nothing good to say don't say anything at all, obey one's teachers and to turn the other cheek.

The kids seemed thrilled as the puppets translated the advice into terms they used and teachers were clearly enjoying the words of wisdom so happily accepted by their students.

"I enjoyed it. The kids did too, which means I won't get any work done today," teacher Karen Blakenfeldt-Tucker said following the assembly.

Nallia Trott, a P5 student added: "I liked them. How they acted and their expressions."

As well as advice, the puppeteers seek to impart virtues to the schools they visit and during an interactive moment with Mr. Peets he asked if anyone knew the meaning of excellence.

One student, Israel, was up to the task. "Excellence means when you do well on work and the teacher says you're an excellent student," he said.

Mr. Peets told the students part of being excellent required practice, instruments or otherwise, being kind, being tidy and meticulous about your work.

He warned though: "Some people try to do everything, but do not try to do everything. Do what you can and do it to the best of your ability.

"Everyone has different abilities. I give the best to the work I do and I set goals for myself."

Mr. Peets has not stopped setting goals for the Clearwater Puppet Company, which already performs in private and public schools, at the Agricultural Show, and churches, and he envisions one day it becoming the Bermuda Puppet Theatre.

The Company currently is a project that is funded from Mr. Peets' pockets and is already no small commitment as the students practice five days for 30 minutes at lunch time.