Three Palmetto State schools recognized for promoting character education among students
February 21, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – February 20, 2009 – Three public schools have been recognized for demonstrating outstanding school climate and academic performance. The 2009 South Carolina Schools of Character are Berkeley Elementary School in Moncks Corner, Blythewood Middle School in Blythewood and Pineview Elementary School in West Columbia.
The schools will represent South Carolina as nominees for the National School of Character awards program. This year’s national winning practices will be featured in the Character Education Partnership’s annual National Schools of Character publication and on the CEP website.
“The development of good character traits is critical to helping our students become productive citizens,” said State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex. “I congratulate these schools and their communities for working so hard to promote character education. They are models for other schools in the state, and we wish them well in the national competition.”
Character education has been in existence for more than eight years at Berkeley Elementary with the Terrific Kids character education program sponsored by the local Kiwanis organization. The school district utilizes the Second Step Program that teaches children how to resolve conflicts. The school community has developed a matrix of peaceful behaviors that are defined and modeled continuously. Over the past two years, the school has developed the Peaceful School concept that gives students the opportunity to be peacemakers. Students are taught the differences between “Amazing Choices” and “Disappointing Choices.” Character words are used in songs, in skits and in the school’s morning news show. Students recite a peace pledge every day, and guidance counselors conduct lessons based on the character words.
At Blythewood Middle School, character education has become a natural part of daily life. The T.E.A.M. approach is used to teach core ethical values and positive life skills, enforce reasonable rules based on shared values, advocate for the common good and model the behavior of good citizens. Students volunteer to become peer ambassadors to welcome new students, serve as peer mediators and serve on Student Council as decision makers who help put the school’s values into action.
Students who display good character and positive life skills are recognized during Character Award Breakfasts, and character is an underlying theme of school ceremonies, such as Awards Day and eighth-grade graduation.
The character education program begun at Pineview Elementary School eight years ago focuses on respect, responsibility, honesty, cooperation, friendship, thankfulness, kindness, citizenship and perseverance. The school defines “character” comprehensively to include thinking, feeling and behavior, and students communicate these through journal writing assignments, artwork displays, general recess time and collaborative group work. A “Book Buddy” program is designed for older students to mentor younger students. The school’s Ackerman Award of Character recognizes a fifth-grade student who has had an outstanding tenure at school. The award recipient is recognized at the end of the year during an awards assembly program, receives a savings bond and has his or her name engraved on a plaque in the school’s foyer.
