Character Education

Our elementary Character Education Program is designed to teach children about the six pillars of learning: respect, caring, fairness, trustworthiness, responsibility, and citizenship. As students have increased their awareness in these six key areas, we have seen positive growth in students as individuals and as members of our school community. When they leave the elementary school to move on to middle school, focus on the six pillars of learning is increased — read more about the pillars on the middle school’s character education page.

Character education is a daily event at Fonda-Fultonville Elementary School, and our entire staff, our families, and our community play a vital role in supporting our students in their character development. Committee led school-wide activities and assemblies form the basis of our program, but day-to-day interactions with students in the classroom, playground, hallways, at home, and in our community help to reinforce key character education concepts.

Caught being good

Students who demonstrate behavior that exemplifies positive character traits will earn tickets throughout the school day. If a staff member sees a student demonstrating behavior that goes above and beyond what is expected, they will give them a ticket. The tickets will be placed in a pail in the classroom. Each Friday, tickets will be drawn from a container in the school office, and those students will receive a prize. The office container will be emptied each week and started new on Monday, but all of the tickets will be kept for a large drawing at the end of the year.

Character Honor Roll

As part of our Character Education program, students will have the opportunity to be chosen for the Character Honor Roll. The Character Honor Roll will be based on the six character pillars – respect, caring, fairness, responsibility, trustworthiness and citizenship. Students who demonstrate outstanding character on a consistent basis each quarter and meet the following criteria will have the opportunity to be chosen for this special honor.

The criteria include:

complete all homework assignments on time
complete one community service project with parent (outside of school)
receive no disciplinary action by the principal or by classroom teacher for any reason
receive no lunch or recess detention given by the principal and/or teacher. Classroom teachers will choose students for this honor at the end of every quarter. Students not chosen one quarter will have the opportunity to be chosen the following quarter. Those students chosen for the character honor roll will have their names displayed in the hallway outside the cafeteria.

Ideas for Community Service Projects

Submit notifications of community service projects to your student’s classroom teacher.

Plant trees or wildflowers.
Plant produce. Donate the harvest to a local food bank.
Plant seeds. Sell the flowers or plants and donate the proceeds to a local organization in need.
Pick up litter at a park.
Put on a play at your school, a fair or festival about local environmental or human needs issues.
Collect items for a time capsule.
Make treats for a local senior home.
Collect food, warm clothing, toys, or personal care items for the needy. Deliver to shelters. Remember shelters are in need of supplies all year long.
Hold a Teddy Bear and Friends (Stuffed Animals) Drive.
Donate the collected animals to a Homeless Shelter for new arrivals. Also…check with your local police station or fire station. Many are happy to take Teddy and Friends.
Make center pieces, holiday cards, birthday cards, and notes for assisted living facilities, children hospital wards, or meals on wheels.
Donate old eye glasses to an organization or place that recycles them for the needy.
Collect old clothes and donate them for a dress-up area at a daycare or family shelter.
Make a holiday basket for someone in need or crisis.
Write letters to service men/women.
Put together a care-package for service men/women.
Form a litter patrol on school or park ground.
In December, contact a tree farm or nursery about donating a Christmas tree to a needy family, shelter or nursing home.
Participate in a local community walk.
Donate non-perishable food items to a local food pantry.
Donate a toy to a child in need at the holidays.
Participate in school lead community service projects like Trick or Treat for Unicef or Toys for Tots.