Character Council

Who We AreBuilding CharacterEndorsing OrganizationsNewsroomHow to Get Involved

Character Ministries

Testimonials

General Faith-Based Resources

Christian Faith

Contributing Authors

Orientation Bulletin

Character and Christianity

General Sermons

General Studies

Other General Resources

49 Character Qualities

Jewish Faith

Other Faiths

Faith Community Strategies

Character Communities

 

Character Council

of Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky

 

"FAITH-BASED SCHOOL OF CHARACTER"

(CHRISTIAN, JEWISH or other faith)

November 30, 2001

 

The commitments of a school to be recognized as a "Christian School of Character" (or Jewish or other faith) by the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky fall under two categories:

  • Personal Commitments - Commitments of leaders and staff to champion character-building in themselves, their students and their students' families.
  • Objective Fulfillment Commitments - Commitments designed to help carry out the objective of "Creating a Culture of Character" within the school.

 

Personal Commitments
  1. Commitment from the school's leader (Headmaster, Principal, Other) to personally practice and develop the monthly character qualities and to champion them throughout the school by modeling, encouraging, and setting up an accountability system (e.g. a central committee, committees within the divisions) to make sure that implementation is occurring.
  2. Commitment from governing board and staff (teachers, administrative personnel, cafeteria personnel, bus driver drivers, etc.) to personally practice the monthly character qualities.
  3. Commitment from staff to creatively bring character into the classroom and life of the school, creating a "Culture of Character". (Staff will be encouraged to attend the free "Culture of Character" seminar offered periodically in the Cincinnati area.)
  4. Commitment by the leader and staff to involve parents in the effort to encourage the practice and development of monthly character qualities.

 

Objective Fulfillment Commitments

Initial

  1. Once the school has set forth the personal commitments, it will pass a resolution through its governing board to tangibly show these commitments. (Sample resolutions are available from the Character Council, but should be tailored to mirror the specific commitment of the school.)
  2. A plan to carry out these commitments will be distributed to staff in a faculty handbook or other item of similar prominence.
  3. A committee or committees will be set up within the school to champion the school-wide character effort and report progress and ideas back to the school's leader (Headmaster, Principal, Other) and Character Council.
  4. Parents will be informed through a newsletter of the commitments that have been made and invited to participate and work with staff.
  5. Instruction will be provided for staff, parents and students answering the basic questions: What is character? What are the benefits based on the Christian Faith (or Jewish or other faith) for practicing good character? Why as a Christian (or Jew or person of other faith ) should I be motivated? Am I really able to change? For this month's character quality, say, exactly what is the target I should be trying to change to? How exactly do I go about changing and growing to achieve this target in my life?

Monthly

  1. Monthly staff meetings will include a discussion of the Character Quality of the Month. 
    a. Definition and 'I Wills"         d. Benefits of developing the quality.
b. Applicability                        e. Testimonies
c. Brainstorming session on how to creatively implement change with the quality.
  2. At the beginning of each month a five minute* introduction to the new Character Quality of the Month will be provided each student and staff (e.g. by intercom), including its definition and understanding of each "I Will", and motivations as a Christian (or Jew or other faith) for practicing monthly character qualities. (*Up to two minutes for 3rd grade and under.)
  3. Each week (except as in #2) a five minute* presentation will be provided each student and staff (e.g. by intercom) motivating or relating the Character Quality of the Month and character in general to Christianity (or Faith of the school). (*Up to two minutes for 3rd grade and under.)
  4. Each day (except as in #2 and #3) a "Minute for Character" will be provided each student and staff (e.g. by intercom), encouraging the practice of the Character Quality of the Month through faith-based stories, illustrations, personal testimonies, recognitions, or other means.
  5. Staff will make an effort to develop a habit of mentioning or providing activities related to the Character Quality daily or weekly. (They should, through brainstorming, have many different ideas through which they can encourage good character in the classroom.)
  6. A system will be established for publicly recognizing and praising students and staff for character, both in the classroom and in broader settings.
  7. The school will create visual and audio reminders to keep the benefits of good character and the practice of the Character Quality of the Month fresh in the minds and hearts of the staff and students. Examples include: 
    a.  Posters                                              f.  Announcements
b.  Creative Artwork, by students           g.  Skits
c.  Bulletin boards and display cases       h.  Flyers/Memos
d.  T-shirts                                              i.  Marquees
e.  Buttons

Other

  1. Provide bulletins, pocket guides, website access, or other resources to help teachers and staff encourage good character in the classroom and life of the school.
  2. Create a plan for offering the family book, Achieving True Success, to each staff member and family as a gift or purchase. Place copies in libraries.
  3. Set up a monthly reporting system to the Character Council which includes:
    • Summary by the internal committee.
    • List of activities that were used to implement the Character Qualities.
    • Constructive Criticism report on ideas that did not work and why.
    • List of all formally recognized staff and students, the Character Qualities that were exhibited, and when they were presented with this acknowledgment.
    • Progress report identifying the positive changes that are being seen.
  4. Carry out a project or action plan monthly to intentionally encourage individuals, businesses or others in the community to practice good character. Examples might include:
    • Distribute monthly character posters or table cards to neighborhood businesses, hospitals, nursing homes, churches, ministries, etc.
    • Encourage businesses to become a "Business of Character" or churches to become "Church of Character".
    • Encourage a business or church to help sponsor your school as a "Christian School of Character".
 

This material is published by the Faith Committee of the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Reproduction and Adaptation is encouraged.