Character Education at Evergreen Elementary School
Did you know our PTA sponsors a very important character education program for our school? The Eagle Excellence Program has been in place for over 7 years and is based on Chesterfield County’s four core values of Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Accountability. Teachers nominate 2 children in their class every eight weeks who are consistently demonstrating positive behaviors that show a core value. These students are recognized at a school assembly.
Students learn about the behaviors that represent our core values in several ways. Mrs. Conrad and Mrs. Anderson, our school counselors, support several initiatives that help students to learn more. Look for some of these and more this year!
- Morning Announcements: Mr. Maher makes announcements every morning to give students examples of ways the core values can be shown. We focus on topics that promote student academic and social success. Announcements might feature good student study skills or peer relations such as including others, sportsmanship, acceptance of others, and helping others.
- Our Evergreen Expectations was created to set five simple expectations for all students.
- The S.O.A.R. Matrix was created to establish clearly defined behavior expectations throughout the school that are consistently taught and modeled, using common and consistent language.
Both of these documents can be viewed on the counselor website as well as here.
Parents can support the program using everyday interactions to help children learn more about the core values by recognizing and reinforcing the positive behaviors they see students use and connect them to the value. We hope you will join staff in recognizing and celebrating actions that show good character!
Basic definitions we use at school are:
Respect: To treat other people the way you want to be treated (use the Golden Rule)
- Raise your hand and wait to be called on by your teacher…do not call out.
- Use your manners when talking to teachers, friends and parents.
- Look for ways to include everyone in games and other activities.
- Share with a classmate who may need a pencil or other school supply.
- Listen to other people’s opinions or views.
- Accept the differences in people and do not tease or use put downs.
- Give a complement to someone such as “You are a good artist” or “You keep your desk really clean”.
- Be a good sport on the playground. Take turns and let others go first sometimes.
Honesty: To be truthful in words and actions; to be someone others can trust; to not steal, cheat or lie.
- Tell the truth all the time…even if it means there are negative consequences.
- Always do your own work
- Keep a secret or confidence when someone trusts you with private information.
- Be fair in games. Play by the rules.
- Do not gossip or tell stories about friends or classmates.
Responsibility: To be dependable, reliable and fit to be trusted. Getting credit or blame for one’s actions or decisions.
- Admit when you’ve done something wrong or made a mistake.
- Complete your school assignment during the given time, and always ask for help if you need it.
- Do your homework every night and turn it in on time.
- Take care of your body. Get enough sleep, exercise and eat healthy food.
Accountability: The state of being responsible for what one does and able to choose between right and wrong.
- Think before you act or speak so you can make good choices.
- Remind yourself of the rules and what is right, and then follow the rules by using self-control.
- Line up in an orderly way and walk through the halls in a considerate manner using low voices.
- Stand up for someone who is being mistreated. Use your words to say stop.
