A box sits in the Kimball Elementary School office. It is intended to be filled with names of students who complete good deeds. Each month, the theme of the box changes as the school focuses on a different character attribute. September’s focus was respect. “Everyday we have students acting respectful,” Principal Jon Clark said. “We acknowledge what we see and remember the acts.” As part of the September event lift-off, the teachers put on a skit to demonstrate respect to their pupils. They told students the definition and explained how it could be applied to school. Teachers reinforced the skill in their classroom. Fifth-grade teacher Melissa Herrington said her students discussed respect in class. They indentified ways to speak respectfully and show respect to others. After the learning exercises, students were challenged to put their lessons into action. When the skills were applied at school, whether in the classroom, on the playground, in the halls or cafeteria, they were rewarded. Each time a respectful display was observed, the students name was put into the office box. Teachers, students and faculty could fill out respect badges. Clark said that there were more than 100 badges submitted in September. Each respectful student had their name read on the intercom. “Some students were in there several times, it is not just limited to one time,” Clark said. “There were quite a few students involved. It was a nice mix of students.” Special acts were celebrated included students raising their hands in class, holding the door open for others and asking others for help when needed. Kimball Family Advocate Sara Watts said that it is important for students to learn these skills at a young age, because the behavior will continue. “Respect is a skill you need to get through your entier life.” Every month, the school will focus on a different life skill. In October, the students learned about courtesy. November’s topic is choice and accountability. Some of the other characteristics will be responsibility, patience, determination and a sense of humor. “[Through the program] students are learning what behaviors are expected and hopefully recognized. It shows students that you can be recognized for good behavior, too, by having your name read and being in the paper. It reinforces the positive behavior and recognizes students when they are being good,” Watts said. Defining life skills A special character committee identified 18 characteristics that all students should learn. The group is made up of members from the Partners in Education (P.I.E.) and Together Achieving Greatness (T.A.G.) organizations at the elementary and high schoool. Elementary students will focus on a different skill every month on a two-year rotation process. “These skills are very important in the real world,” Watts said. “Students will be more likely to impress someone if these skills are just a habit. They will have more friends if they are courtesy and respectful,” Watts said. “As a consequence, students will have better self esteem for having more friends.”
