This Month's Best Practice

Each Month the Maryland Center for Character Education (MCCE) picks one of the Best Practices from a Character Education award winning school to share with you.

FEBRUARY

This month's Best Practices is from an award winning school from 2006-2007.

 

BEST CHARACTER EDUCATION PRACTICES

 

School: Holly Hall Elementary School

Address: 233 White Hall Road, Elkton, MD 21921
Principal: Cynthia Ward

Phone: 410-996-5050
E-Mail: cward@ccps.org

             

Title of Best Practice: Bringing It All Together

 

Primary Character Trait(s) Emphasized: Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Justice and Fairness, Honesty, Self-Discipline, Integrity, and Cooperation

 

Objective:

When good character is observed and displayed by everyone, everyone feels the benefit as it is manifested in the form of safety, well-being , and high academic achievement.

 

Brief Description:

The Character Education Program at Holly Hall ES is based on the scientifically researched premise that when students are socially and emotionally healthy, academic achievement increases. Furthermore, schools that emphasize character and citizenship in all facets of their programming are characterized by strong relationships amongst staff, students, parents, and the community at large that leads to a peaceful learning environment.

 

We believe this is taking place at Holly Hall. Our Character Education Program is truly a comprehensive and collaborative effort of all stakeholders in and out of the school. The activities and processes-used to promote-and build good character are-based-on the-eight "Traits -of the Month" that are observed in CCPS. The following "ingredients" will give the reader an idea of the breadth and scope of our Character Education Program:

1. Character Education Committee that meets regularly to discuss needs, initiatives, and support,

2. Character Education Awards Breakfast: students who are nominated by their teachers as students who have shown outstanding character related to the trait of the month are recognized with families and teachers as their audience,

3. Character Education Marquee in the main hallway,

4. Daily Morning/Afternoon Announcements: highlights the trait of the month with a quote of the day related to the trait; announces recipients of Fish Grams,

5. Fish Grams: Any person (staff, student) can recognize the deeds of good character of others by completing a Fish Gram; recipients receive their Fish Gram and have their picture displayed in the main hallway,

6. Parent Fish Grams: parents are given blank Fish Grams and are encouraged to send in a completed Fish Gram to recognize deeds of good character at home,

7. Monthly Newsletter: informs parents/families of the trait being observed and any school activities that support the trait of the month that is being observed,

8. Character Building Day by Day: Teachers utilize this book that contains short stories with discussion questions to highlight character in their classrooms,

9. Teachers and Counselor Activities that infuse character in general or a specific trait into class lessons and activities. For example, Kindergarteners planted trees to show respect and responsibility for the environment. Also, in an art lesson, our Art Teacher led kids through the process of making holiday cards for nursing home residents to show caring,

10. School-wide Activities: "Caring Cans" food drive; Coat Drive,

11. Quarterly Awards Assemblies: Principal's Character Education Award is given to students who are nominated by their teachers,

12. Character Education Pep Rally prior to Fun and Fitness Day

The efforts made by all have a unifying force in our school and community. The importance of good character and how it relates to healthy living is emphasized in every classroom and in every part of the building. We have added a stronger parent component this year via the parent newsletter, Fish Grams from home, and the Character Education Awards Breakfast. We believe that this strengthens the impact of Holly Hall's Character Education Program because the significant adults in the lives of students communicate the message that good character is important.

"It takes a community to care for the community" would be an appropriate theme for the Character Education Program at Holly Hall. When good character is observed and displayed by everyone, everyone feels the benefit as it is manifested in the form of safety, well-being, and high academic achievement.

 

 

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The Maryland Center for Character Education
29 West Susquehanna Ave., Suite 300, Baltimore, MD 21204

Phone: 410-823-4902
Fax: 410-828-9661
E-Mail: MCCEcharacter@aol.com