During the Wautoma Kiwanis meeting on March 3, the club asked the teachers who make up the Character Ed Committee to speak about their work toward the Second Character Ed Day to be held at WASD in Oct. 2022. They brought four students, one from each school, to tell about why Character counts and how they work each day to develop good character in all the students of the District.
Riverview’s Script:
“Hello, my name is Brooklyn Boettcher, I am a 3rd grade student at Riverview Elementary. One character trait we learn about is Leadership. Leadership is showing that I can lead others by positive actions. There are many things that we do at Riverview to celebrate leadership and all of the other character traits throughout the school year. One way that students can participate in these character traits is by joining the 3rd grade student council, which I am a member of this year. Students that are a member of the student council are selected because they demonstrate our seven character traits daily.
Another way that we recognize the district character traits is at our school wide assembly. The first Friday of every month, we define a new character trait to focus on. Our teachers highlight that character trait throughout lessons that month. Then, our teachers nominate a student who they feel demonstrates this character trait. This student is recognized at the school wide assembly and is awarded the Student of the Month Award. Teachers can also recognize students with Character postcards. These post cards are mailed home to share with parents when a teacher sees something positive that their child is doing at school with the character traits.
Finally, when you walk into our school, you will see our character traits proudly displayed throughout the building. This is a great reminder of the wonderful work that we are doing to show character throughout Riverview.”
Redgranite Script:
“My name is Cadence Lederhaus and I am a 5th grader at Redgranite Elementary School.
In our district we encourage students to be determined to reach their goals. Our definition of determination is, “I can set goals and try my best even when it is hard.” At our school we set monthly goals and celebrate those students who reach their goals.
In addition, we hold monthly school wide Character Education meetings where hardworking students earn character awards and we discuss all seven character traits. We encourage the students to notice others demonstrating character traits in order to help the students gain more awareness of the positive things happening around us.
At Redgranite Elementary School we also display a visual in the hallway where we post “I C U” slips so students and staff can read about how students are demonstrating the different character traits throughout the building. Each student who gets recognized on the wall gets to eat lunch with the principal. Each month students enjoy a book read by a teacher who comes into their classroom. Teachers read books that connect to the monthly character trait and discuss the character trait with the students.
Another character trait we celebrate in our district is responsibility. Responsibility is defined as “I do what I have to do when I need to do it.” This year at Redgranite Elementary School our teachers organized the first inaugural Student Council. My classmates and I are proud to be members of the Student Council and we love acting responsibly to improve our school in a positive way.
Thank you for your time.”
Parkside Script:
“Good evening,
My name is Colton Buechner, I am a 7th-grade student at Parkside school.
Throughout the school year, students at Parkside school not only learn about the seven character traits but also demonstrate them in our daily actions and activities. I am here to talk about respect and cooperation.
Respect is treating others the way you want to be treated. At Parkside school it is expected that all students and staff respect each other through our actions and words. One way that we show respect is by listening to each other. When someone has something to say we listen intently and respond in an appropriate manner. We also show respect by supporting each other. By supporting each other we see the positive in everyone and make them feel important. We lift each other up instead of putting each other down.
Cooperation is being able to listen, share, take turns, work, and play with each other. One of the ways that you can see cooperation at Parkside is the middle school student council. We work together to come up with ways to support our school and community. For example, during the holiday season, we did a school-wide food drive. We were able to come together as a club and school. We were able to collect 3,285 non-perishable food items for our community. In the elementary grades, we have a group that is called Peer Power. Once again students worked together to make blankets that were then donated to those in need.
Cooperation and respect are both traits that go hand in hand. When we cooperate by working together, we demonstrate respect for ourselves, peers, our teachers, our school, and even our community.
In closing, I just want to share some of the other ways we build character at Parkside School. Every month as a school, we have a schoolwide CPR (circle of power and respect). Each month each grade level nominates 4-5 students that show exceptional character. Students are then recognized for their efforts. The teaching staff at Parkside also nominates one student per grade level for Student of the Month. Then one student is chosen to represent that month.”
High School Script:
“Hi, my name is Abby Peterman, I am currently a Senior at Wautoma High School. The high school highlights and embodies each of the character traits every day. The high school has a diverse range of clubs and activities that are open to all students, that help to display character traits through our student body.
Tonight, I will be discussing what empathy and integrity means to our school. Empathy is knowing how to comfort and understand one another. Recently, one of the teachers at our school, Mrs. Wilson, had to take a leave of absence due to a Cancer diagnosis. Mrs. Wilson was a vital part of school, and she made an impact on many of the students and staff.
On February 4th our school participated in World Cancer Day, in support of Mrs. Wilson. FCCLA and FBLA teamed up in the school coffee shop, and created a new drink that all students could buy. Key Club sold motivational quote stickers during lunch hours. All of these clubs fundraised for Mrs. Wilson during that school week, and all the proceeds went to Mrs. Wilson, to aid in her fight against Cancer.
Another way that our school shows empathy is through one of our newer clubs, Sources of Strength. Sources of Strength is a club with students varying from Freshmen to Seniors.
Sources of Strength teaches students how to cope and support others struggling with mental health, through videos, activities, and groups.
Integrity is knowing and doing the right thing no matter the circumstance. Our school shows integrity through the staff and our Link Crew club. The staff creates an environment where students feel safe to tell the truth and do the right thing. Not only that, but our Link Crew also displays integrity.
Link Crew is an organization of Juniors and Seniors in our school that are assigned to different “Start” groups, and help to welcome the Freshman to our school, through activities. Freshman year is always nerve wracking because everything is new, and it is a
complete change of pace. Link Crew tries to alleviate any nerves, and will get to know all of the Freshman. The Link Leaders lead by example, which gives the Freshman an idea of how to have integrity and be the best versions of themselves, no matter who is watching.
The high school proudly displays Cooperation, Deter-mination, Integrity, Empathy, Leadership, Respect, Res-ponsibility. And, because of these seven traits, students are surely set up for success after high school as they enter adulthood.”
Those in attendance at the meeting include (back): Julie Petersen, Redgranite Third Grade Teacher, Belinda Peterman, WHS Spanish Teacher, Chris Brown, Kiwanis President, Brianna Kulibert, Redgranite Guidance Counselor, Molly Siefert, Riverview Music Teacher, Aleesha Whalen, Parkside Fifth Grade Teacher, and Courtney Vaughan, Riverview Guidance Teacher. (front): Brooklyn Boettcher, Third Grade Riverview School, Cadence Lederhaus, Fifth Grade at Redgranite, Abby Peterman, WHS Senior, Colton Buechner, Seventh Grader at Parkside, and Cindy Reilly, Kiwanis Treasurer.
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Wautoma Aea School District students