If national leaders need a crash course in getting along with others, they should visit this peaceful primary school, 60 miles west of St. Louis. Not only are the little ones showing older students the way to resolve conflicts; they are also training their own parents in the process. Sullivan’s character initiative has grown since 1999. With 56 percent of the student body on free or reduced-price lunch, many little ones in this school already face challenges. When seeking a tangible way to explain character to students so young, the Sullivan staff seized on the idea of using the school mascot, the eagle, as the connection. To help them “learn and live character every day,” the school has created a structured but loving approach that uses a touchstone, the Eagle Way, as a common focus and relies on other strategies, such as morning routines, a common language, the character pledge, conflict resolution tools, and service learning projects, to reinforce the core values of responsibility, respect, honesty, and cooperation.
Read more about Sullivan in the 2010 NSOC book: “On the Right Road, Doing the Right Thing.”
Sullivan Primary School Video
Signature Practices
Lesson Plan:
The purpose of this lesson is to help students identify and demonstrate the importance of moral character in relationships.
Promising Practice: Liberty Eagle's Journey...A Purpose
The team going to the National Schools of Character awards brought an 8” cardboard colored cutout picture of the school’s mascot Liberty Eagle to play a part in a documented video that would be shown at the Sullivan Primary school- wide celebration. Once in California, Liberty sat in on breakout sessions, dined at the fabulous luncheons provided, and went across the stage to receive the National School of Character award.
Promising Practice: Scholarship for Character
Sullivan Primary School's kindergarten and first grade students worked with the Rotary and created a unique way to provide a scholarship for high school graduating students.
Promising Practice: Empowering Character
By providing a curriculum with character in everyday lessons, Sullivan Primary students will develop and apply skills to solve problems, respond positively to opportunities, challenges and responsibilities, and gain leadership to prepare them for their futures.
Promising Practice: Color Our Character
Students use art and technology during an after-school program to create guidebooks for new students.
Promising Practice: Flip For Character
The Character Education Team developed a “Flip Chart” that would support an understanding of the procedures used daily with character providing a guide to facilitate the implementation process. The “Flip Chart” provides an overview of the Character programs and procedures in our school such as: class room strategies, class meetings, daily rituals, common language, routines, conflict resolutions, and stress management strategies therefore creating a character community.
Contact Information
Tina SohnArt Teacher
1132 Elmont Road Sullivan, Missouri
Phone: (573) 468-5446
Email: sohnt@eagles.k12.mo.us
Website: www.eagles.k12.mo.us