Character Education
2010 - 2011

 

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Vision:
The Granville Jr./ Sr. High School Character Education Committee believes that character education is necessary in order to promote a healthy community and learning atmosphere.  Our belief is that by helping students understand and care about core ethical values through an educational program, students will internalize and be enabled to act upon these core ethical values.  We believe that by enabling teachers and staff to help focus students on “pillars of character”, as a learning community, we will:

Ø  Build Character by encouraging students to take responsibility for their choices and actions.

Ø  Build Confidence by motivating students to do their best both personally and academically.

Ø  Build Community by inspiring students to contribute to the world around them, while honoring the diversity that makes our country great.


Mission Statement:  
The Granville Jr./Sr. High School Character Education Committee’s mission is to provide teachers, staff and administrators with the tools necessary to promote character education inside and outside of the classroom. 

 


Goals:

A.  Our immediate goals are the following:

 

  1. Maintain a character education program at the Jr./Sr. High School that will encourage and reinforce positive use of the character education virtues of the month that we feel are important to student development.  We will utilize and reinforce the Virtues of the Month, which are posted on the school calendar.

 

  1. Utilize portions of a formal, tried and true, character education program titled Project Wisdom in order to introduce students to the character education virtues that we wish to promote.

 

  1. Maintain an extrinsic incentive program that will reward students who are modeling the desired virtues and other positive behaviors.  Our belief is that these rewarded behaviors will become intrinsically relevant to our students.

 

 

B.  Our long-term goals are the following:

 

1. To maintain and refine the program by customizing it to our needs in the future.

 

2. To promote and support the PBIS Program for the future through the Character Education Program in order to build a stronger, more cohesive community atmosphere within our school.

 

3. To use the program to increase community involvement.

 

 

Program Description:

 

  1. Virtues of the Month will be chosen from Project Wisdom materials:

These will be posted on the monthly school calendar that staff, students and families will receive.

 

2009-2010 Virtues:

 

September: Creating Success in School

October:   Making a Difference

November:   Keeping a Positive Attitude

December:   The Gift of Friendship

January:   Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones

February:   Celebrating America’s Diversity

March: Making Responsible Choices

April:   Building Courage and Character

May:   Building a Caring Community

June: Respecting Ourselves and Others

 

  1. The reading of a daily script, which contains a famous quote or thought-provoking theme on which the character value of the month will be based, will reinforce the Virtues of the Month.  Educational leaders both from within the school and outside the school will perform the daily script reading.  The Principal, Assistant Principal, counselors, teachers, and student will be role models who will participate in these daily readings.  Community members will be invited into the school to be script readers and will reinforce the character traits that we would like to convey to students.

 

 

  1. A short monthly lesson will be distributed to teachers to reinforce the character traits of the month.  The lessons will include the following:
    1. The thought-provoking quote/script that accompanies the lesson will be read over the PA system at the end of the morning announcements.  The lessons will take place immediately after announcements during first period on the designated Monday of the month or on two-hour professional delay days.  (See the attached schedule of dates.)  Teachers may also use the lessons with other classes throughout the day, if they desire.
    2. Teachers will be given a journaling worksheet for students to fill out based on the quote, or may follow the lesson plans attached, which include a format for discussions and other activities.
    3. Follow-up lesson suggestions will be provided (subject specific) to teachers who wish to expand upon the virtue during the week.

 

  1. Staff will be provided with a reward card-system, called “Character Cards” which will be awarded to students who display the “virtue of the month” and other positive behaviors.  Teachers and staff may award these cards to students who display positive character traits or the Virtue of the Month.  (Please see the specific guidelines for distribution, attached.)

 

  1. Students will be given incentives for displaying the desired virtues during the month.  Upon receipt of an award card, they will be able to do the following:

 

  1.  
    1. Biweekly Drawings:

Submit their card for a bi-weekly drawing per grade level.  Grade-level boxes will be provided in the guidance offices for drop-off.  Random drawing winners will receive gift items such as:  Subway cards, Video Passes, Price Chopper gift certificates, etc.

 

  1.  
    1. Quarterly Gifts:

All students receiving cards will receive a token gift for displaying positive character values.  Students will receive items such as:  pencils, wristbands, key chains, etc., reinforcing positive character values.

 

  1.  
    1. Quarterly Activity Rewards:

Students who receive reward cards may use this as an entry pass into a quarterly event such as: Good Character Breakfast, or Ice Cream Social or other designated activity.  Two activities will be held quarterly, one for grades 7 & 8 and one for grades 9 through 12. 

 

  1.  
    1.  Student Exceptional Character Awards:

This awards program will recognize students who have demonstrated positive character values in exceptional circumstances.  Teachers will be asked to nominate students by filling out a short nomination form and submitting it to the designated committee member.  Students will be recognized either monthly or quarterly.

 

  1. Program details and links to the Project Wisdom website will be posted on the Granville Jr./ Sr. High School webpage.  This will include the following:
    1. Links to the virtue of the month, lessons and journaling activities
    2. Student and Staff Recognition
    3. Quarterly Activity announcements

 

  1. A Teacher & Staff Recognition Program will recognize faculty members who have helped students to develop positive character values.  A “Kudos Card” nomination form will be available for staff members to fill out and submit to Kim Rath.  Staff members will receive recognition during faculty meetings. 

 

The Character Education Committee:

 

Scott Bojanich Brooke Farrell

Dan Poucher Barbara Byrtus

Liz Hayes   Laura Colombo

Gary Gendron Sue Hosley

Liz Mulvaney Geoff Loiacono

Ann O’Brien   Christine Partch

Will Hardin Sanda Weber

Sara Collins Kim Rath

Leah Leibacher