As a primary school we must recognize that young children must be taught the difference between right and wrong. This is our opportunity to teach and model our character education initiative. Dr. Michelle Borba refers to this as building a child’s “moral core”. These strong ethical convictions are known as virtues. These character traits are “not what we see the kids do, it’s what they do when we’re not watching.”

In 2011-2012, we will teach the following virtues:

• Peacefulness – Kelso’s Choices
• Empathy
• Conscience
• Self-Control
• Respect

Each student in our school belongs to a Forest Family. These families are led by a staff member. Each family has a specific name; for example, Bears, Elks, Ravens, Beavers, Fox …and also have a specific place in the school where they meet once a month to learn about the monthly virtue and skill.

Each virtue and a skill will be introduced to the students at our Bi-Monthly Forest Family Assembly. We choose a hero or role model whom we think exemplifies that virtue. The students will have time to practice the skill, as well as integrate the skill into other subject areas. The classroom practice will be supplemented with a daily scenario that is read over the intercom after morning announcements. It is expected that the students spend two minutes discussing each scenario.

We also meet during the third week of each month as individual Forest Families in our respective classrooms, to practice the virtue-associated skill introduced at the assembly. This will provide us with an opportunity to “bond” as a “family” as well as to firm-up the ideas/skill presented earlier.