Pledge for Change
Orono Schools strive to offer students the opportunity to contribute significantly to their school’s community culture as well as to enhance their social responsibility from a more global perspective. During the 2008-2009 school year, a high school student from the Character Counts group made the middle school community aware of an opportunity for students to become involved in the national “I Pledge” movement as seen on Oprah. The Orono School District decided to embark on its own “Pledge for Change” character movement. The Middle School was the first to incorporate this character movement, through the advisory program. This program began with viewing the presidential call to action “I Pledge” video from the Oprah show by staff and then by students in advisory. Advisors worked with students individually on the creation of their own personal pledges for change. Student pledges were displayed and students were encouraged to remember their pledges throughout the year. The school’s Pledge for Change video aired during student-led conferences in March.