Sporting the Colors
When Portage Central Middle School became members of the CHARACTERCOUNTS! Coalition and adopted the Six Pillars of Character as our chosen core values, (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship), T-shirts for the entire staff (secretaries, lunch ladies, and custodians included) were purchased in the six solid colors (blue, gold, green, orange, red, purple) which represent each pillar. The core values are printed across the chest. Through personal selection of a T shirt, staff members choose which core value they would like to represent. On designated days of teaching or celebrating character, the whole staff “Sports their Colors!”(wears their T-shirts). The goals/objectives of this practice include: 1) Raising school wide awareness of our chosen values through vivid visual advertisement 2) Creating interest among our students as they inquire about our shirts 3) Brightening up the school community – good character is colorful! 4) Declaring staff unity in promoting the program 5) Giving staff members physical ownership in the program 6) Promoting our character education program district / community wide; shirts worn outside of the building promote interest and inquiry, giving staff an opportunity to advertise what we believe.