We have character good and strong.
(We have character good and strong.)
We always try to do no wrong.
(We always try to do no wrong.)
We show our character through our acts.
(We show character through our acts.)
A community of character – that’s a fact!
(A community of character – that’s a fact!)
This was the opening to our “Acts of Character Chant”, a call/response chant performed during the HCGS Acts of Character assembly on Friday.
This was a first for our grade school, and I hope will not be the last. The idea came from our Character Counts Council, who wanted to see our grade school compliment the JH/HS “Make a Difference Day.”
This was also the week for “Make a Difference Day,” and from what I heard, our 7-12 students did just that! They completed over 80 jobs with over 1200 man-hours of service to the community!
Our first idea was to have our K-6 students simply join “Make a Difference Day”, doing age appropriate tasks. But then it was decided that the younger kids should have that to look forward to. It was started by the high school, and then extended to the junior high when those students moved into that building. “Make a Difference Day” is now a 7-12 tradition, and it is time for the grade school to start a tradition of our own.
Today we’ll show our character,
(Today we’ll show our character,)
In lots of ways that matter.
(In lots of ways that matter.)
Though work and gifts and lots of praise,
(Through work and gifts and lots of praise,)
We give to others on this day!
(We give to others on this day.)
We decided to have our “day” on a Friday, and to use the afternoon for students to make a difference. We wanted to tie it into Character Counts, so I ended up calling the afternoon our “Acts of Character Day.” The idea is simple: to be a person of character you have to back up your positive attitude with positive acts.
The grade school “acts of character” incorporated the six Character Counts pillars. Our kindergarten and first grade students demonstrated “caring” and “respect” by making and delivery thank you cards to the police, to the fire fighters, and to EMS personnel. Our 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders demonstrated “responsibility” and “citizenship” by picking up trash and weeds from the playground. Our fifth and sixth grade recognized fairness and trustworthiness by making gifts for the Salvation Army and for Sealy House and Dawson place. Through work and gifts and lots of praise, our students spent Friday afternoon showing their positive character.
We’ll keep it going all year long.
(We’ll keep it going all year long.)
Good character does make us strong.
(Good character does make us strong.)
In school, town, and community.
(In school, town, and community.)
We’ll show good character for all to see!
(We’ll show good character for all to see.
Unlike “Make a Difference Day,” which happens just once a year, I hope the grade school students can perform “Acts of Character” throughout the year. Considering how successful our afternoon efforts were, we might have at least one more official “Acts of Character” day.
But more than that, I hope that because of the day, the students better appreciate the value of giving back, paying forward, and making a difference through acts of character. We have an outstanding group of young people in whom we are proud. Lets encourage them to keep the “chant” going:
We care!
(One. Two.)
We care!
(Three. Four.)
We care!
(One. Two. Three-four!)
No comments:
Post a Comment