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EGUSD in the Spotlight
Character Education at Elk Grove Unified
Throughout the month of October, Elk Grove Unified students and staff are participating in activities to commemorate Character Education Month.
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Photo: A display on the table at the Very Important Character luncheon. |
“Character education helps teach students how to understand, appreciate and internalize positive character traits,” said Linda Meyerson, director of elementary education. “These traits may include trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, civic virtue, honesty and personal responsibility.”
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Photo: A V.I.C. is introduced to the crowd at the V.I.C. luncheon. |
Several schools participate in character education programs in the district, both at the elementary and secondary levels. At the elementary level, many schools focus on a specific character trait each month. Others give awards to students based on recommendations from teachers. Others may highlight a student or two per month in their school newsletter for outstanding character choices. At the secondary level, some schools – including Laguna Creek High School – offer activities that focus on helping others, such as the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program and the Striving Toward Equity in All People (STEP) program.
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Photo: The September V.I.C.’s at Prairie pose for a photo after their luncheon. |
Character education programs at Elk Grove Unified are known for their innovation and creativity and have been recognized both at the state and national levels for their excellence.
In 2007, Charles Mack Elementary School was one of 100 schools from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Singapore to receive a Promising Practices award from the Character Education Partnership. Mack was honored for their work on their “Think It Through” worksheet and their “Student Character Education” video.
Mack and Prairie elementary schools were selected as 2007 California Schools of Character (CSOC) by the Center for Youth Citizenship. To be selected as a CSOC, these schools had to demonstrate an outstanding character education initiative that yields positive results in student behavior, school climate and academic performance. In 2009, Prairie was named the 2009 California School of Character. As a result, Prairie advanced to the national level competition, as California’s nominee, where they earned an Honorable Mention award.
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Photo: California School of Character banners on display at Prairie. |
“Character education is huge here at Prairie,” said Brian MacNeill, vice-principal and chair of the character education program at Prairie. “We incorporate character education throughout a student’s day in many ways. In September, our character trait was respect.”
Morning announcements centered around what respect looked like and how to show it at home, school and play. The monthly character education assembly addressed how students could show respect for themselves. Prairie has a Clean Team that picks up trash on campus – which demonstrates respect for the environment. Students created skits showing how to be firm but respectful when handling conflicts. A story was read to students highlighting “The Golden Rule” from different cultures to demonstrate that showing others respect touches everyone around the world.
The success of Prairie’s character education program is clear to see. Between 2004 and 2007, the number of suspensions dropped from 217 to 111. Attendance improved by .7 percent. The number of students proficient in English Language Arts jumped five percentage points and the number of students proficient in math made a gain of 6 percent.
Prairie was also recognized with a 2009 California Promising Practices award for their “Panther Buddies” program. Panther Buddies is an informal mentoring program for at-risk students at Prairie. Volunteers are assigned one or two students The idea is to be a buddy for the student for the year – to encourage, offer support, call when they are absent and congratulate them when they perform well, just to name a few.
“Our volunteers are staff members at Prairie – teachers, office support staff, instructional associates, yard supervisors and custodians,” said MacNeill. “Anyone who is a staff member is encouraged to be a part of the program.”
For more information about character education and the California School of Character award, please visit www.youthcitizenship.org.
Spotlight Archives
2009
Oct. 7, 2009 - EGUSD celebrates Walk to School Day
Sept. 8, 2009 - The Work of Academic Excellence
Aug. 18, 2009 - All EGUSD Schools are back in session!
Aug. 11, 2009 - EGUSD and the Ford Motor Company train Californian teachers to bring 21st century workforce skills to the classroom
July 21, 2009 - Year-round elementary schools kick off 2009-2010 school year
June 12, 2009 - Time Capsule Sealing Ceremony concludes 50th Anniversary Celebration
June 4, 2009 - Sheldon High School senior wins Elk Grove Auto Mall Graduating Seniors Attendance Drive
May 19, 2009 - Elk Grove Unified School District Becomes National Ford PAS Resource Hub
April 28, 2009 - Amazing talent can come in small packages
April 14, 2009 - Young science scholars and inventors shine at EGUSD Science and Invention Fair
March 25, 2009 - Winners selected for 4th Annual Superintendent’s Art Contest
March 12, 2009 - No Excuses – Go to School Attendance Campaign
Feb. 17, 2009 - Harvest of the Month program teaches elementary students about the wonders of fruits and vegetables
Feb. 5, 2009 - Community board meetings return for a third year
Jan. 23, 2009 - EGUSD students see history through a veteran’s eyes
Jan. 13, 2009 - A, B, C in A-G – Chart Your Course to College
2008
Dec. 18, 2008 - Winners honored for EGUSD/U.S. Attorney’s Office Internet Safety Video Contest
Dec. 01, 2008 - Winners of the 2008/2009 No Excuses – Go to School
Nov. 17, 2008 - Bright Lights, Big Talent
Oct. 24, 2008 - Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles visit Florin High School
Oct. 9, 2008 - EGUSD Walks to School
Oct. 2, 2008 - EGUSD’s Science Initiative
Sept. 19, 2008 - Stephanie Lopez-Cox returns to Elk Grove a “Golden Girl”
Sept. 10, 2008 - Valley High School Students Get a Start on College
Aug. 25, 2008 - Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School and Cosumnes Oaks High School Open
Aug. 14, 2008 - Incoming 7th graders take a “Jump Start” into their school year
Aug. 4, 2008 - EGUSD’s Math Initiative
July 14, 2008 - Parents and students grow and learn together at Partners Preschool
June 16, 2008 - EGUSD Goes Gold – Celebrating 50 Years of Educational Excellence
June 6, 2008 - Kaiser Permanente Rewards EGUSD Elementary students with perfect attendance with the gift of a two-wheel ride
May 30, 2008 - Sheldon High School Student Matthew King wins Elk Grove Auto Mall 2007/2008 Graduating Seniors Attendance Drive
May 20, 2008 - Harriet Eddy Middle School student wins pair of round-trip tickets from Southwest Airlines
May 21, 2008 - Elk Grove Unified and the Elk Grove Education Association Celebrate the Day of the Teacher
May 6, 2008 - Elk Grove Unified School District’s 2008 Employees of the Year
April 28, 2008 - Sacramento County Educators Host Budget Forum at State Capital
April 16, 2008 - EGUSD Launches New Attendance Campaign Videos
April 4, 2008 - Winners selected for 3rd Annual Superintendent’s Art Contest
March 26, 2008 - Megaconference Jr. 2008 - Arthur C. Butler Students Take Their Voices to the World
March 17, 2008 - Elk Grove Unified Joins Call to Fix Governor’s Proposed Budget
March 4, 2008 - Elk Grove Unified Hosts Sacramento County Superintendents’ Press Conference on State Budget Cuts
Feb. 19, 2008 - 4th Annual High School Conference helps train the leaders of the future
Jan. 16, 2008 - Laguna Creek High School hosts ConnectEd Policy Site Visit
Jan. 02, 2008 - Senior Attendance Drive returns for second year
2007
Dec. 12, 2007 - John Ehrhardt Elementary students combine academics and community service
Dec. 03, 2007 - EGUSD’s Commitment to Service Learning Honored
Nov. 15, 2007 - Winners announced for No Excuses – Go to School Rhyme & Poster Contests
Nov. 13, 2007 - Veterans Day celebrated at Elk Grove Unified
Oct. 23, 2007 - Time of Remembrance Project and Website
Oct. 15, 2007 - Markofer Elementary offers “Donuts for Dads/Muffins for Moms"
Oct. 3, 2007 - EGUSD elementary schools participate in Walk to School Day
Sept. 18, 2007 - Options abound on new College and Career website
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