TD is a K-5 school located in Wayne, NJ. Our community is made up of many different cultures, races, and religions. 17% of our students have special needs. Families’ socio-economic circumstances vary. Given our diverse demographics, we work diligently to ensure that our school fosters an environment where individual needs and traditions are appreciated, and honored.TD is unique because of how seamlessly character education (CE) is woven into every aspect of our school life. CORE VALUES inform all of our work and are an essential part of our academics, service projects, and family involvement. Our work started through the Developing Safe/Civil Schools (DSACS) Grant through Rutgers and Dr. Maurice Elias. Staff, students and families collaborated in the development of our program. Our goal is to prepare students to be responsible, contributing members of society. Before we began our work, some people viewed CE initiatives as a distraction from academics. In a time of economic challenges and learning mandates, ”fitting CE” into the day seemed overwhelming. Because all community stakeholders were a part of the development of our CE program, this is no longer the case. People appreciate that having a structured CE program has improved our learning environment and performance, inspiring students to be service learners. Funding continues to be an issue, but dedication and creativity have allowed us to persevere.

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