At Rocky Heights, banners displaying the words Respect, Own it, and Be Kind, along with their acronym, R.O.K., are proudly displayed. This clever acronym brings together much of the character education language Rocky Heights students commonly use. Students clearly enjoy the playfulness of the acronym, particularly the way it lends itself to use in phrases such as “you R.O.K.” to affirm positive behavior. A beloved mascot, Nighthawk Man, adds another playful dimension to the school’s character initiative. The school’s own superhero is featured in many of the video public service announcements streamed to classroom TV sets. RHMS’s video editing and production classes write and produce these videos, which feature skits that highlight situations in which the school’s core beliefs are humorously enacted. At the end of each skit, Nighthawk Man enters to remind students to Respect, Own It, and Be Kind. Nighthawk Man also stars in the daily Nighthawk News, a video magazine of the day’s important announcements, one of many ways in which the school infuses their core beliefs into the fabric of daily life. Recent data suggest that character education programming at RHMS is having an impact on disciplinary referrals. The school reports reductions in incidents of aggression, fighting, disrespect, harassment, inappropriate language, and lying.

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