We feel that we should educate our children to be responsible and productive citizens who can effectively manage
future challenges. With this in mind, The Education Academy staff has developed an integrated curriculum emphasizing
the elements of character and have provided opportunities for students to practice and be rewarded for personal
displays of great character.
We maintain a school-wide focus on rules and procedures that support character development. The teachers integrate
literature that has rich, meaningful examples of character formation into the curriculum. They develop age-appropriate
classroom activities that enhance students' thinking skills and promote cooperative learning within their classrooms.
We have an extensive Character Education library available to all staff with age-appropriate videos, lessons,
classroom activities and stories that pertain to all character traits. Each month we highlight one character trait and
keep introducing new ones from October through June. September is used as an introduction month to review the
importance of character and explain how the program will work throughout the year. The monthly character traits
include: RESPECT, CARING, RESPONSIBILITY, PERSEVERANCE, FAIRNESS, COURAGE, SELF-DISCIPLINE, HONESTY, AND CITIZENSHIP.
Each day a daily quote relating to that month's character trait is written on the Character Education board in
the main hallway. Whenever a staff member notices a student showing great character pertaining to the monthly
trait, they are rewarded with a certificate that is signed by that staff member and the Principal. We have
found that the students enjoy taking their certificate down to the Principal's office for his signature in person.
These certificates are then displayed on the hallway bulletin board for all to see. At the end of the month,they are
taken down, presented to the students during class, and then they take them home. This process helps parents to
become aware of the accomplishments of their children and of our strong emphasis on character development.
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