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| 21st century students must be prepared to be contributing members of a civil, caring community. They need to value the principles of caring, trust, respect, and responsibility which provide a common ground for peoples of the world. They must also be equipped to deal with the moral dilemmas of the 21st century, which include some of the most important questions facing the human race.
At All Saints’, the goal of character education is to develop in all our community members beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes which nurture considerate, responsible and contributing citizens both for today’s and tomorrow’s world.
Our commitment to ethical growth is articulated in our Mission Statement and Core Values which emphasize an “education that nurtures heart, mind and spirit.” This commitment is also deeply woven into the fabric of our school’s curriculum. Social responsibility, civic duty, appreciation of diversity, and multi-cultural awareness are taught throughout the social studies and language arts curricula.
School wide, All Saints’ uses the Six Pillars of Character developed by the CharacterCounts! Program to provide a student-friendly vocabulary that is accessible to all and readily identifies and reinforces the key character traits the school supports through its myriad community service activities, classroom lessons, and chapels.
Social and emotional learning models are also incorporated to help students develop tools to manage their emotions, resolve conflict nonviolently, and make responsible decisions. Developing a respect for all members of the school community is strongly emphasized. Respect and responsibility are taught as students are encouraged to listen to each other, to respect other's opinions and beliefs, to appreciate diversity, and to identify behaviors that show respect.
Based on the belief that community building occurs through relationships, the Big & Little Brother-Sister Program is a beloved tradition at the school. Each year older students are partnered with younger students, giving older students the opportunity to experience role modeling and leadership skills, and younger students the pleasure of having a special big brother or sister to look up to. Activities together encourage empathy, concern, and appreciation for others.
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In ECU, along with the CharacterCounts! Program, the Kindness Curriculum, literature books and teachable moments are used to reinforce character traits. Discussions about respect and responsibility occur throughout each day.
First grade’s class rule, “I will treat others with kindness and respect” is highlighted all year. The Six Pillars’ character trait of the month is worked on each week through discussions and applications of the behaviors, examples from literature and role playing. In second grade “Community Builder” and “Problem Solver” are words often repeated. Friday homeroom Chapels are used to read, practice, discuss, and role model the Character Counts ideas. |
The development of character, values, and a sense of respect and responsibility are emphasized throughout each day and through the year. Third grade highlights the Golden Rule and the 3R Pledge: “I will respect myself by making good choices, I will respect my classmates by treating them kindly, and I will take responsibility for my actions.”
Fourth grade embraces Persons of Character as an annual theme and character development lessons include role playing, lessons from literature, and biographies of famous people who exemplify these traits. Through these lessons, students achieve an increased level of moral development, respect, and responsibilities. Class outreach projects involve reaching out to others outside of our community as well.
In fifth grade, development of character, values, and a sense of respect and responsibility are a part of each day. On the first day of school, the children create a classroom "Constitution" (guidelines which the students create and then agree to live by.) Learning to communicate so each person is heard is emphasized when conflicts arise. Formal lessons involving specific character traits take place once a week. To further encourage the pillars of kindness, respect and responsibility, fifth graders spend time with their little brother and sisters in ECU. |
| A formal middle school character education program meets every Friday morning in the upper grades for fifty minutes and includes a rotating schedule of social and emotional learning activities, advisory meetings and open sessions. In all of these group activities, the objectives are for the students to become more self aware and socially aware, to be able to self-manage, build healthy relationship skills and understand responsible decision making. |
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