Virtues Project
The language of virtues is a
very important key to helping children understand their inner gifts and
capacities, and in learning to appreciate the virtues in themselves, their
families and in each other. A Virtues Calendar is developed by staff at the
beginning of the year, with the "Virtue of the Week" (see calendar below) presented at the school
Virtues Assembly every Friday afternoon by each class on a rotating basis.
Every classroom develops its
own rules at the beginning of the year, and selects class virtues to work on.
Students are encouraged to acknowledge the virtues in each other. All staff
members (teachers, administrators, assistants, etc.) give Virtues Vouchers to
students, each other, parents and visitors. A Virtues Voucher is a special
honoring of a person who has helped in some way, and who has practiced a
particular virtue that the person giving the voucher wishes to acknowledge.
It includes the particular virtues seen, and how it was practiced.
Using this language, and
acknowledging the virtues in a very specific way, serves to teach our students
about the positive things they do. Most children, especially challenging
children, hear in great detail what they do wrong, but never in the same
detail what they do ”right”. Children's Success Academy turns this process
around. Our energy is spent recognizing positive actions, not the negative
actions.
Students
ARE held accountable for their actions, and negative incidents must be
corrected and “restorative justice” must occur. After that, students go back
to class and continue with their learning and practicing of positive actions.
