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    November 2013

News from CHARACTERplus
National Schools of Character will Share Best Practices in Free Showcase

Our Showcase of Best Practices on November 21 is your opportunity to hear from principals and leaders from nine National Schools of Character.  These educational leaders, along with students and teachers, will share the vision, strategies and outcomes they used to transform their school culture and increase academic achievement.  The showcase is free to CHARACTERplus members. 

 

At the workshop you'll hear how these leaders guided their schools to mastery of the 11 national character education standards, including insights on expanded student leadership, staff buy-in, service learning and core values.  To register click here

This year we are proud to present our showcase as a pre-conference clinic of the National Council for Social Studies Conference.  All events will take place at America's Center.  To learn more about the NCSS Conference click here.
Character at its Best:  
Reed Elementary in Ladue 
 
Reed Elementary in the Ladue School District
has found a great way to get students involved in their school while developing leadership skills and other positive character traits.  
 
The STARR (Students Taking Action and Responsibility at Reed) teams have been a success as students work together to serve their 
school community.
STARR teams were established to increase a sense of belonging among students.  
 
To participate in a team, a student's teacher
must confirthat the student demonstrates Panther PRIDE (Patience, Respect, Integrity, 
Determination and Excellence).

 

The STARR team concept was originally adopted to replace the school's existing student council. The Principal's Council is serving that role, but the new model has opened the opportunity for many

more students to get involved at school. This school year 118 students are involved in 14 different STARR teams.

 

STARR teams include the PE team, which helps clean up and organize gym equipment, and the Birthday Card team, which makes and distributes birthday cards to all students.  Other teams include the office messengers, the gymnastics set up team, the laptop maintenance team and the Panther Day team. 

 

"What is very exciting is seeing the initiative students are taking," said Susan Gartenberg, counselor at Reed.  "This is truly an evolving win-win program."

Connecting Early Childhood with Character Education
 
Thanks to a generous grant from PNC, CHARACTERplus members can learn from a panel of early childhood experts on making the connection between character education and early childhood in a free workshop.  
 
Key topics include:
  • The components of early childhood character;
  • Pinterest techniques to organize developmentally appropriate activities;
  • Influences on character development;
  • The affect of parenting on character;
  • Character outcomes;
  • Plus much more.
This event is ideal for pre-K through first grade teachers and administrators.  We are proud to partner with ARCHS to present this workshop. The session will be all day on Wednesday, December 4 at the St. Louis Public School District Training Center.  For more information click here.
In This Issue
Friends of CHARACTERplus Fall Social
 
The 9th Annual Friends of CHARACTERplus Fall Social is taking place Friday, November 22 at The Racquet Club East.  The event will honor Debra Hollingsworth with the Sandy McDonnell Dedication to Character Award.  The event is generously sponsored by Edward Jones, SSM Health Care, Enterprise Bank & Trust,  AT&T, Hautly Cheese Company and Argent Capital Management.  For more information, click here.
 
Creating a Lasting Legacy
 
In recognition of the 25th anniversary of CHARACTERplus, the
C+ 25th logo
American School Board Journal recently featured an article about the organization's history. Nora Carr, chief of staff for Guilford County Schools (NC), wrote the article recognizing the organization that was started by Sanford N. McDonnell in 1988.  To read the full article click here
Workshop Calendar

Nov. 7: Student Summit on Bullying Prevention (Jefferson City)

Nov. 13: Certification in Effective Methods I (Kansas City)

Nov. 18: Certification in Character Development and Education

Nov. 19: or Nov. 25: CPI Non-Violent Crisis Intervention

Dec. 3:  Bullying Prevention: A Culture of Courageous Allies

Jan. 8: Bullying Prevention with Trish Madsen (Kansas City)

Jan. 8: Certification: Ten Essentials of the CHARACTERplus Process

Click here to view our full calendar of upcoming workshops. 
Thank you for your continued support and interest in CHARACTERplus. For more information on the many ways CHARACTERplus makes a difference in the lives of children, contact Diane Kline at [email protected] or visit www.characterplus.org.

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