CHARACTER COUNTS AT PARK VILLAGE
"Kids for Character" Pledge in color
Park Village has implement a new program into our school community called Character Counts! This program will help improve the climate of our school by increasing awareness of personal behavior choices of our school community. Character Counts! is a program that can be combined with our everyday behavior expectations and academic curriculum.
The program is based on 6 pillars of character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.
We will be focusing on a pillar every 4-6 weeks. Focusing on each pillar separately, will allow students, staff, and parents to fully understand what each pillar is trying to teach.
Trustworthiness - is a person who lives with integrity, honesty, and they are reliable and loyal. In the classroom students will tell the truth.
Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends and country
Respect - is when a person lives by the Golden Rule. Students respect others, and are courteous, polite, and tolerant of each others differences. In the classroom students will use good manners, and will not use put-downs towards others.
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 - is when a person is accountable for their actions, and pursues excellence and self-control. In the classroom students will accept responsibility for their choices and accept the consequences of their actions and will not make excuses.
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
Fairness - is when a person is fair and just, they listen to others, and is open to different viewpoints. In the classroom students will treat people equally, and will not take advantage of others.
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
Caring - is when a person is compassionate towards others. They are kind, loving and considerate. In the classroom students will be empathic and kind to others and will not be mean and insensitive.
Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need
Citizenship - is when a person acts as a good citizen. They share the load; help their community and respect authority and the law. In the classroom, students will play by the rules, and will not make them up as they go.
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
When we weave the 6 pillars into our daily behavior expectations and curriculum we are teaching kids that Character Counts! at Park Village. Our new handbook reflects the 6 pillars of character. The behavior expectations/rules are the “Penguin Pillars” which are the 6 pillars of character. To ensure that every student is aware of the expectations, classes attended a behavior assembly within the first week of school. Students will bring home the new student handbook. I ask each parent to review the handbook with their child to ensure they understand the behavior expectations. We have positive rewards when kids make positive choices and we also have consequences for students not following the Penguin Pillars. Parents will be notified of poor choices via a student referral and/or a phone call from the office.
For this to work in our school, the staff must have a common vocabulary of Character Counts! We will be working hard as a staff to be consistent in our teaching. Parent volunteers have also been trained, so they can help educate the other parents in our community.
We are excited about the potential of Character Counts! We are confident that Character Counts! will help our students exhibit better behavior (even when we are not looking), encourage parents and staff to be positive role models, and remind us at Park Village to be the best educators we can be!
What Things Become
Watch your thoughts, they become your wordsWatch your words, they become your actions
Watch your actions, they become your habits
Watch your habits, they become your character
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
Author Unknown
A new mural has given our new two-story building a bright and cheerful entrance! All along the base of the building, penguins can be seen skiing, skateboarding, painting, reading, sun-bathing, surfing, playing instruments and more! We are grateful to the fifth grade class of 2003-2004 for this wonderful gift that will bring life to our school for years to come!
This project was made possible through many donations. Frazee paint in Poway donated all the paint, brushes and hats for this project. This project was a success because of the generosity of a local artist named Heather Roddy.
Artist Heather Roddy is a San Diego native who has been painting professionally for 20 years. She had her first art show when she was 19. Both her parents, Gary Jenkins and Susan Jenkins, are professional Artists. She has three children, Elizabeth, Amanda and Ian. Heather is known for painted furniture that tells a story and she has been in the annual T -Pot show in La Jolla, Gallery Alexander for 7 years. Heather does custom paintings on canvas and walls. Her work has sold all over the world.