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.

SEPTEMBER

This month's Best Practices is from an award winning school from 2004-2005.

 

BEST CHARACTER EDUCATION PRACTICES

 

School: Hickory Elementary School

Address: 11101 Hickory School Road, Williamsport, MD 21795
Contact: Catherine Scuffins, Principal
Phone: 301-766-8198
E-Mail: Scuffcat@wcboe.k12.md.us
              

 

Title of Best Practice: Character Counts Everyday for Everyone

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

Objective(s): To promote, implement, and sustain Character Counts education through a consistent and purposeful proactive program for students

Brief Description (including such items as materials needed, persons responsible, sequence of activities, observable results, references, etc.)

Activities:

•   Character Counts School Agendas are used school wide as homework planners. Every month a different Character Count pillar is acknowledged. Additionally, every week there is a focus on a different person in history who demonstrates that identified pillar. At the beginning of every week, teachers refer to the pillar and historical figure to remind students of the importance of character education.

•   A monthly Character Counts assembly is held for selected students (Character Counts Citizens of the Month) who demonstrated characteristics of the six Character Counts pillars during that month. Parents are invited to attend this celebration. An afternoon consisting of an ice cream sundae treat and Bingo games are included. In addition, students receive a certificate, pencil, bookmark, and eraser. All students are “pinned” by their parent as a student of the month. Furthermore students are acknowledged in the monthly school newsletter.
  
•   Daily “Random Acts of Character” are announced on the morning announcements with all acknowledged students. Teachers, administration, other staff members, and other students may acknowledge students. All students receive a character counts pencil and complete a star for the Wall of Fame.

•   Students participate in monthly community service projects. Each month a different organization is chosen for students.

•   Hickory staff participates in monthly community service projects to model for students the importance of community service. Each month a different service project was initiated. Selected projects were meaningful to staff members.
  
•   The guidance counselor has created numerous “friendship” groups, meeting on a weekly basis, which correlates with the Character Counts pillars.

•   Character Counts Citizens of the Month are listed monthly in the school newsletter and included in the local newspaper.

•   Pictures are taken monthly of the Character Counts Citizens of the Month and are included in the school’s yearbook and local newspaper.
  
•   A school wide Character Counts assembly was held for all Hickory students. “Dave and Jody” presented two programs “Music that Matters” for Hickory students. Each Character Count pillar was highlighted with a song. Their CD was purchased and implemented into music class, classroom instruction, and physical education classes.

 

Schedule of Activities:

• At the beginning of the school year, all students are given the Character Counts agenda to use as a homework planner. This planner is used daily. If the planner is lost or destroyed, another planner is provided to students. This planner allows parents to correspond with teachers, as well as to provide the Character Counts information given to students.

• On November 22, 2004, Dave and Jody presented “Music that Matters.”

• Random Acts of Character are announced daily during the morning announcements.

• Each month a new staff service project was initiated.
  • September—School supplies were collected for students in need. Items not used were stored for later use by students during the school year.
  • October—National Denim Day was held October 8, 2005. Over $150.00 was donated to Breast Cancer Research for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
  • November—In cooperation with local churches and organizations, Hickory staff helped to feed 17 families at Thanksgiving and over the school holiday.
  • December—Hickory Elementary helped over 30 families at Christmas by making and delivering Christmas baskets and becoming “Santa” for Hickory students.
  • January—Tsunami Ham Sandwich Sale—Students sold and staff made 1358 ham sandwiches, making $1,700.00. All monies were donated to UNICEF for victims of the tsunami.
  • February—National Wear Red Day—All staff member wore red on February 4, 2005 in recognition of women’s heart health awareness.
  • March—Staff assisted with a Hickory family that lost all of their belongings in a fire. Donations were gathered, with over $200.00 collected to purchase clothing, school supplies, and household items. In addition, furniture including a bed and sofa were obtained.

   

• Each month a new student service project was initiated.
  • September—Supplies for students—Students gathered and brought to school supplies to assist those who may be in need.
  • October—Harvest for the Hungry Kids Helping Kids Food Drive—Over 730 pounds of food was collected for the food bank.
  • November—Christmas Card Drive—Students created and sent over 250 Christmas cards to Multi-National Coalition-Iraq Staff Judge Advocate and Region 9 TDS Camp Victory, Iraq.
  • December—Food Collection for the Salvation Army
  • January—“Coins for Kids” Tsunami Relief Fund—Students collected over $2,000 in change for the victim of the tsunami. All monies were donated to UNICEF.
  • February—Jump Rope for Heart—Student collected over $2,500 for the American Heart Association.
  • March—Students collected toiletry supplies for the homeless shelter in Hagerstown.
  • April—Students collected money for the family of Hickory students who lost their home in a fire. A fifth grade student initiated this fundraising project.

• Every third Tuesday of the month is designated for Character Counts celebrations.

Outcomes:

• It is the expectation that student behavior will improve as students become aware of the school’s expectations regarding character education. On a daily basis, students will be reminded of the positive behaviors that are taught through the six pillars of character. By implementing daily and monthly incentives, students will see the benefits of demonstrating positive behaviors and take a proactive approach to self- regulation of their behavior.

• By including parents in the monthly celebrations, the school is able to acknowledge the importance of parental support in this school and this program. The response has been overwhelming, as parents participate in a pinning ceremony with their child, eat ice cream, and play bingo. Over 250 adults have attended the Character Counts celebrations.

• The Family Community Partnership Coordinator and guidance counselor have embraced the character celebrations. They have provided the refreshments for the ice cream sundaes, prizes for the Bingo games, and have taken yearbook and newspaper pictures. These stakeholders have embraced the program and have fully supported character education in the school.

• Behavioral referrals have dropped 80% for the entire 2004-2005 school year.

• An average of three Random Acts of Character are announced daily. Over 330 “Random Acts of Character” have been announced.

• To this date, 168 students have been recognized as “Character Counts Citizens of the Month.

It is the belief that by taking a proactive approach to character education, students will refrain from demonstrating inappropriate behaviors and act in a positive, respectful manner with others. It is the school’s expectation that all students treat others with respect, demonstrate honesty at all times, and display good citizenship. It is the belief that staff members must set examples and be positive role models for Hickory students; therefore holding everyone in the Hickory community responsible for good character. By implementing “Character Counts Everyday for Everyone,” students have developed social skills that foster positive peer interactions through the implementation of the six pillars of character.

 

 

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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