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.

DECEMBER

This month's Best Practices is from an award winning school from 2005-2006.

 

BEST CHARACTER EDUCATION PRACTICES

 

School: Patuxent High School

Address: 12485 Rousby Hall Road, Lusby, MD 20657
Principal: Nancy Highsmith
Vice Principal/ Character Ed Coordinator: Dawn Ray 

Phone: 410-535-7865
E-Mail: highsmithn@calvertnet.k12.md.us

E-Mail: rayd@calvertnet.k12.md.us

             

Primary Character Trait(s) Emphasized: Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Justice, Fairness, Honesty, and Trustworthiness

 

Objective:

1. To implement a school wide approach to promote positive behaviors.

2. To develop and encourage the use of character traits in the classroom and community.

 

Brief Description:

• In the fall of 2005 an administrator was asked to start a character education program within the high school. Under the direction of the vice principal, the committee was formed. The committee met monthly to assess the progress and revise the program as needed.

• Each character trait was emphasized for a month with prizes given to those students whose names were selected in the drawings.
  

• Prizes were solicited from local businesses by a parent volunteer.
  

• Prizes were donated by coaches, clubs and activity sponsors within the school.
  

• Students made daily announcements from "Project Wisdom" to encourage good decision making skills. Weekly announcements were made for character education.
  

• Articles on Character Education were featured in the Patuxent High Parent Newsletter.
  

• Teachers used a designated organizational period and Freshmen Academy teachers used Freshmen Seminar to teach lessons on character.
  

 

---

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