Teaching and reaching a teenage population of just under 3,000 poses challenges to any school staff. However, South Brunswick manages to challenge its students, staff, and community members by focusing on moral and performance character. At South Brunswick, Strive for Five serves as the driving philosophy for developing character by focusing on honesty, kindness, respect, responsibility, and service as the five tenets which shape the culture of the school. Principal Tim Matheney and activities coordinator Gina Welsh champion the effort to develop and sustain a culture of character and support their staff and colleagues as they, too, “Strive for Five” in their daily practice and long-range plans. South Brunswick coaches expect their teams to stand for something bigger than themselves; they encourage each team to identify a cause to champion, and to find ways to sponsor that cause throughout the season. Despite its size, South Brunswick boasts a sense of connectedness and belonging among its diverse student population.

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