CHARACTER EDUCATION

Character Education plays a significant role at the Donald P. Sutherland School.  Character education involves teaching children about human values. The goals are for children to understand, care about, and act upon a common set of core values of character that will assist them in becoming quality citizens. Problem solving, decision making, and conflict resolution are important parts of developing good character. Through instruction, role playing and classroom discussions, students can see that their decisions affect other people and things.

At the Donald P. Sutherland School, we utilize the nine pillars of character as the foundation of our overall program.  They include:

Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements

Responsibility

Do what you are supposed to do • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your choices

Cooperation

Teamwork • Work with others for a common goal• Polite treatment • Mutual respect • Compromise when you have a serious conflict • Make people feel needed • Don’t isolate or exclude anyone • Do your best

Caring

Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need.

Tolerance

Standing up for others who are being bullied for being different • Appreciating and enjoying people who are different • Treating everyone in the manner in which we want to be treated.

Integrity

Trying to do what is right even when it is difficult • Being your best self • Not compromising your values • Being honest and truthful.

Perseverance

Fairness

Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly

Citizenship

Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment

We will be focusing on these character traits throughout the school year.  Each month we will place specific emphasis on one trait.  This is our schedule for the 2009/2010 school year:

September: Respect
October: Responsibility
November: Cooperation
December: Caring
January: Tolerance
February: Integrity
March: Perseverance
April: Fairness
May: Citizenship
June: Review of all traits

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK)

The students of the Donald P. Sutherland School are recognized on a daily basis for the positive acts of kindness they exhibit.  Staff members recognize students when they exhibit a random act of kindness towards another person.  Staff members document these on individual certificates and turn them into the main office.  During morning announcements we recognize the students and place their certificate on our Random Act of Kindness Tree that is located in our cafeteria.  Our goal this year is 1,600 RAK by Arbor Day.

Character Education Assemblies

Each month students participate in a character education assembly.  During our assemblies, the new character word of the month is introduced by students in one of our grades.  Our assemblies feature a student certificate ceremony for those students that were recognized by their classroom teacher as being a student of character for the previous month.  We also recognize all the students that have exhibited Random Acts of Kindness.  The assembly concludes with a raffle of prizes that are donated by our PTO.