Three new ‘Schools of Character’ – The West Milford Messenger

District now touts four state and national schools of character, two honorable mention

Published Jul 22, 2017 at 6:22 am (Updated Jul 20, 2017)

Photo provided Members of the Paradise Knoll staff celebrated the state School of Character designation.

Maple Road students and staff show their support on Red Nose Day.

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Each year, Character.org (formerly The Character Education Partnership) and its state affiliates select schools and districts that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development programs and a positive impact on academic achievement, student behavior, school climate and their communities. To earn a School of Character designation, schools must demonstrate accomplishment of the 11 Principles of Effective Character Education. (Character.org) The 11 Principles of Effective Character Education are: The school community promotes core ethical and performance values as the foundation of good character. The school defines character comprehensively to include thinking, feeling, and doing. The school uses a comprehensive, intentional, and proactive approach to character development. The school creates a caring community. The school provides students with opportunities for moral action. The school offers a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops their character, and helps them to succeed. The school fosters students self-motivation. The school staff is an ethical learning community that shares responsibility for character education and adheres to the same core values that guide the students. The school fosters shared leadership and long-range support of the character education initiative. The school engages families and community members as partners in the character-building effort. The school regularly assesses its culture and climate, the functioning of its staff as character educators, and the extent to which its students manifest good character. (Source: Character.org)

BY PATRICIA KELLER

WEST MILFORD West Milford Township Public Schools have earned three new designations as state and national schools of character, and two new honorable mention awards for 2017.

Maple Road, Paradise Knoll, and Upper Greenwood Lake elementary schools were all named National Schools of Character by Character.org and the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional, and Character Development (NJASECD).

West Milford Township High School and Apshawa Elementary School earned honorable mention designations for State Schools of Character for their character education endeavors for the 2016-2017 school year.

Teaching the whole child academics as well as social and emotional health is important every day in every one of our schools, stated Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Alex Anemone upon learning of the schools earning the state-level School of Character designations.

The principals of Maple Road, Paradise Knoll and Upper Greenwood Lake were thrilled with the achievement.

We are proud and humbled by the distinction of National School of Character," said Jennifer Miller, principal of Paradise Knoll. "I would like to formally acknowledge and thank all of the teachers and staff that work so hard to create an environment at Paradise Knoll where Character Matters! I would also like to thank all of the PK parents and families who constantly support our students on this character journey.

"Maple Road School is tremendously proud of the honor of being selected as a National School of Character, said Maple Road School Principal Bill Kane in a comment to The Messenger. This distinction is a credit to the hard work and quality character of our staff, students, and parents. To become a National School of Character, the entire Maple Road School community worked together to weave Character.org's 11 Principles of Character into the fabric of our school's climate and culture. We are so proud to be recognized for this hard work. Go Mustangs!"

Dr. Greg Matlosz, principal of Upper Greenwood Lake Elementary School

UGL is very proud to be recognized as a National School of Character," said Matlosz. "I would like to thank Mrs. Johanna Archer, Mrs. Mindy Turner, the Character Education Committee, staff, students, and the community for all of their hard work in making this become a reality. It is fantastic to see our school district move even closer to becoming a School District of Character.

Macopin Middle School also previously earned the honorable mention designation in 2016. Once a school earns the designation as a state School of Character, they hold that designation for three years.

District schools also received 19 additional Promising Practice awards for their various character education programs.

In total, 83 schools and four districts from 21 states were named as National Schools and Districts of Character for 2017 by Character.org and the NJASECD. Seventeen of the schools named in 2017 were former National Schools of Character reapplying for the national designation.

Accepting their awards and recognitionKane, Miller and Matlosz represented their schools, along with other fellow district administrators and staff at Rider University to be recognized at the state level for their achievements and accept their awards.

Character.org will honor the designated schools and districts on the national level at its 24th annual National Forum on Character Education event to be held the weekend of October 20-21, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia.

Anemone said the district representatives will not only be attending, but will be also be giving a presentation at the prestigious National Forum of Character Education in the fall, and that a showroom-type of display will then be presented for public viewing at the November 2017 Board of Education meeting.

About Character.orgCharacter.org, a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1993 with the mission to provide leadership and advocacy for character worldwide. The organization is committed to helping people everywhere in becoming educated, inspired and empowered to be ethical and compassionate citizens.

National Schools of Character are schools that have completed an in-depth and rigorous evaluation process including site visits, and were found to be exemplary models of character development; having demonstrated that character development has had a positive impact on academics, student behavior, and school climate. National schools of character hold their designation for five years and become part of a national network of Schools of Character serving as models and mentors to other educators nationwide.

This distinction is a credit to the hard work and quality character of our staff, students, and parents... We are so proud to be recognized for this hard work. Go Mustangs!"

Bill Kane, Maple Road School principal

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Three new 'Schools of Character' - The West Milford Messenger