Character Education and Caught With Character Continue at BRE in 2011-2012

We are pleased to announce that the Caught With Character program is back for 2011-2012 at BRE. In support of Character Education, the Caught With Character program will be expanded this year to include new themes as well as BRE staff/student gatherings.  Here are the monthly themes for 2011-2012:

- August: Do Your Best

- September: Commit To Commitment

- October: Positive Attitude

- November: Responsibility

- December: Friendship

- January: Honesty

- February: Respect

- March: Courage

- April: Kind & Courteous

- May: Choices Count

We thank all the staff at BRE for supporting the students through this fantastic program and we congratulate all the students who are Caught With Character each month.  At the end of each month, one student per grade is acknowledged as a grade level winner along with a “bonus” student that can be chosen from any grade. We hope you notice the trophy display in the main hallway at school displaying all the kids who were “caught” in the current month along with the pictures of the monthly winners posted on the adjacent board. Additionally, below you will find group photos of the monthly winners to date. We hope you help us extend our Caught With Character program by talking with your kids at home about these various themes. Thanks for your support!

Character Education –Why It’s Important

Education research has indicated a correlation between successful academic achievement and schools that have implemented a character education program. Of the studies that have been conducted so far, several suggest that ”as you facilitate social development, you are concurrently, for many kids, advancing their academic function,” according to Stephen N. Elliott, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Citing one specific example, an Italian study in 2000 found that children’s positive social skills were powerful predictors of academic achievement, Elliott suggests that social skills that are part of character education programs may be “academic enablers” (Viadero, 2003).

Project Wisdom

Over the past few years, BRE completed its purchased of a Character Education curriculum called Project Wisdom. The Project Wisdom curriculum is essentially is a 3-year program BRE can use in 3-years rotation sand serves as the core foundation of the Character Education program at BRE. Project Wisdom summarizes the purpose and goal of the program as: an intentional effort to help students understand, care about, and act upon core ethical values. Students with good character are caring, just, and responsible. They have developed an internal motivation to do their best and to contribute to the world around them. Good character education improves social and emotional competencies as well as academic performance.

Project Wisdom offers instruction on how to provide a school-wide character program. Currently, BRE uses the program by having a daily character lesson read during the morning announcements.

Project Wisdom is a scientifically research-based program that was developed to align with No Child Left Behind. In Project Wisdom’s most recent evaluation of its effectiveness, it was determined that the program:

• Decreases incidents of student teasing and/or bullying.
• Decreases discipline referrals to the office.
• Affects the school climate in a positive way.
• Has a positive impact on teacher morale.
• Stimulates student conversation about character issues.
• Increases students’ self awareness, social awareness, self management, relationship skills, and responsible decision making.

The list below is a list of values fostered by Project Wisdom:

August Classroom Winners – “Do Your Best!”

September Classroom Winners – “Commitment”

October Classroom Winners – “Positive Attitude”

November Classroom Winners – “Responsibility”

December Classroom Winners – “Friendship”

January Classroom Winners – “Honesty”