Dear Parents,
This letter aims to highlight the progress made in the Character Development Program (CDP) that was implemented starting September, 2018, and to highlight the program’s aims for the current school year. The CDP aimed to help students from different grade levels develop positive relationships amongst themselves, a matter that would also reflect positively on their well-being, and ultimately, on their academic performance and on their preparedness for life beyond high school. The framework around which this project is designed is emphasizing specific virtues:
Respect, Responsibility, Compassion, Collaboration, Impulse Control, Work Ethic, and Service, among others. Inorder to inculcate the above mentioned virtues, these virtues must be taught like any other curriculum area. As such, the virtue will be discussed with students in a structured manner during regular classes, homeroom sessions, and additional sessions as part of themed days.
A primary part of the project was the reorganization of our homeroom system into a House System. In this arrangement, students were sorted into House Homerooms instead of having them divided by grade; as such, each homeroom consists of students from all four grades. This arrangement gives opportunities for mentorship from the older students to the younger students on a daily basis; breaks down the barriers between the grades by spending daily time with other grades, time that is structured around community building and character development, that we can avoid the kind of divisive feelings that results in bullying and fights; and will have more opportunities for leadership within the school--students from each house will be elected as House Captains and be given certain responsibilities.
Furthermore, two Character Development Days (CDD) were conducted (one each semester). Within these days, the last 3-4 periods of the day were used to conduct activities which included lectures on conscientiousness consumerism, a grade 12 student shared his experience in the secondary school with students, problem solving and team building activities. In addition, the planned activities allowed students to have lots of fun.
Areas to improve and goals for SY 2019/2020
1. Parental and community members involvement were minimal.
Although some 25 parents expressed their interest in joining the committee, only four parents attended our meetings and one parent attended all meetings. “For any character (virtues) program to come close to realizing its full potential, it must have the support and involvement of all segments of society” from its outset. This means forming a committee with representatives from educators, parents, students, etc. the committee serves to create and review the character development program, and solicit feedback and suggestions from the community, which will improve and strengthen the program. A more important reason for involving parents and the community, character development has been, is, and will continue to be, a joint responsibility of the family, the school, and all institutions of the community. However, as each and every parent has a very personal stake in the program, the parents need a more personal level of communication. This includes informational meetings for parents and community, written communication (letters from teacher or school, newsletter, CD Days (CDD)).
Simply informing the parents and community members about the program is not enough; they should also become actively involved in carrying out the program. This can be done through inviting parents to tell their stories that exemplify particular virtues- hard work, concern for others, acts of kindness, etc.
If you have any appropriate life experience you would be willing to share with our students, activities, or other resources, please let us know by ticking the space below. We will work with you to find a time and place that is convenient for you to work with our students. Additionally, we would like to have parent representation in the committee.
Should you be interested in joining the committee, please complete the lower part of this letter and return it to secondary
school office.
2. Student Participation
Students were on the receiving end of this program last year; they should be more active in the various stages of implementation and assume leadership roles. Students should come up with ideas and test them, thus giving them a sense of ownership, in addition to giving them an experience of working together, crafting compromises, and promoting ideas to their peers.
Unfortunately, many students were absent on the CD Day and many left school right before the activity started; their parents gave them permission to leave. Participation was better in the second day where students were not informed about the day. We believe students should have a leading role in the activities as aforementioned.
We look forward to having you join us in this worthwhile effort. And we seek your support to our endeavor through encouraging your sons/daughters to actively participate in the day’s activities, and to having you join us on the day.
Kind regards,
IKNS Character Development Committee |
