By Lisa Greeves
It’s hard to believe that it’s time to prepare for a new school year! August and September are ideal months to jumpstart your character education program and to try out new approaches to start the year off right. Reserve some space on your school calendar NOW for new innovative character education initiatives that will make a difference. Check out some of these 2011 Promising Practices that are perfect for the beginning of the year.
Zion-Benton Township High School in Zion, Illinois hosts a Freshman-Zero Day to welcome all incoming freshman to the high school. This is an occasion during which upper class student leaders and faculty members celebrate the arrival of new students, emphasizing the school’s caring community and helping freshmen feel more at home within their new environment.
Muhlenberg Elementary Center in Laureldale, Pennsylvania hosts a beginning of the year school-wide assembly called Cool Muhl to kick-off their Cool Muhl Rule (treat others the way you want to be treated), and to introduce and define each of the six traits selected to focus on at MEC.
Duncan Elementary School in Fort Hood, Texas created the Duncan Random Acts of Kindness program, which is a great program to begin at the start of the school year. Intended from the beginning to be an anonymous way of building morale and self-esteem in others, the students carry out random acts of kindness throughout the year.
Planning out your school-year calendar? Consider trying a Monthly Character Assembly like the one created by Valley Preparatory Academy in Fresno, California. Once a month, the school holds a special assembly to celebrate that month’s character learning. The assembly includes student recognition, skits, videos, slide shows, service learning reflections, and class choir performances that focus on the character trait of the month. Families often stop off on their way to work for this special time.
Want to learn more? Be sure to visit the find a winning character education practice that will work for you and your school!
