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"Character
program kicks off at Maple Grove Junior High."
Maple Grove Junior High (MGJH) began implementing a Character Education
program this school year.
The Character Education Program is an all year activity to promote
positive school climate.
The Program was based on "Project Wisdom" materials. "Project
Wisdom" consists of weekly themes and a collection of thought-provoking
messages centered around the weekly theme that will be broadcast
over the PA system twice a week.
The themes will be posted around the school, on television monitors
and in classrooms each week. Select teachers will be facilitating
activities and discussions within their curriculum for all three
grades. Krista Brenno, drug prevention and school safety educator
said, "these messages will help us build our 'character muscles,'
reminding us to be responsible, trustworthy, courteous and caring
human beings."
The messages will encourage students and staff to think twice about
the choices they make and the consequences of these choices.
The program kicked off Oct. 13 with MGJH students listening to Carl
Olson, a motivational speaker about Character Education. "There
were three assemblies at MGJH Oct. 13 to kick off the Character
Education Program," Brenno said.
Olson is also a guidance counselor/teacher in Wisconsin. According
to Brenno, a parent/community presentation about the program will
be followed up in a couple of months.
"Teaching Character Education is
important because it affects who we are and who we will become,"
Brenno said. "This program will motivate us to be the
best we can while we learn to tolerate, and maybe even celebrate,
what's different about others."
Brenno also said, "the program is a pilot this year in three
schools, including Maple Grove, North View Junior High and Brooklyn
Junior High."
MGJH will also continue its "Courtesy Counts" program
which recognizes students who role model positive behavior as part
of building Character Education. Brenno also said that the school
will have "Spirit Wear Day" for students and staff on
Fridays.
"All of these programs are in place to continually improve
positive school climate," Brenno added. "Shaping, nurturing
and developing the total child is a responsibility for us all."
The Character Education Program is funded by a federal grant through
Safe and Drug Free Schools and the District 279 Foundation.
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