Transitions as a Community of Character
The district team for character education, addressing survey concerns and assessments, created goals establishing ongoing transition procedures to enhance a community of character. Transitional planning committees were created to respect and address the diverse needs of each community member when change occurs. As the district realized the necessity to redistrict changing boundaries and restructuring, students, staff, parents and community members enthusiastically joined teams to research, plan and execute strategies beneficial to the entire community. Plans for events, class meeting format discussions, buddy arrangements, and communication methods were discussed. Transition teams created included administrative teams; student teams staff teams, parent teams, and numerous topical teams allowing representation from all stakeholders. Positive practices already in place were replicated to help buildings with similar concerns. For example the highly successful Link Crew which helped 9th graders transition successfully with the help of their upperclassmen mentors was adapted for a Lindbergh Linkette group at our middle schools. The annual character education symposium addressed with student, staff, administrative, and parent representation from elementary through high school addressed a concern to create a culture of character. Student, teachers, parents, and staff joined with the character education team in each building to plan strategies thoughtful of all.