Palmyra recognized for ‘Promising Practice’ in character education

Over 130 school districts from around the U.S. as well as Canada and Mexico will receive awards for “Promising Practices” in character education. The Palmyra R-1 Parents as Teachers Program will receive an award for Kindergarten Connection.
The Character Education Partnership (CEP) gives the annual awards for unique and specific exemplary practices that encourage the ethical, social and academic growth for k-12 students through character education. By publicizing these awards, CEP hopes to recognize educators for their efforts and to encourage others to learn from and even replicate these successful initiatives.
Winning practices included creative ways to engage parents and community members, encourage student voice and leadership, and offer students opportunities to serve others.
“These educators have found exciting new ways to help and encourage all members of their school communities to be move involved and more caring,” said Lara Maupin, program coordinator. “The results are kids that feel connected and are therefore more ready and able to learn.”
Kindergarten Connection provides specific, timely information about a child’s development and transition into kindergarten in a safe, comfortable setting for families. The Kindergarten Connection Practice creates a caring school environment by enhancing relationships between the parent and child, and the parent and school, which enhances the relationship between the child and the school. This practice affirms the crucial role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. A premium is placed on orchestrating positive experiences for parents and their children as this exciting adventure begins. The transition process starts long before the formal enrollment of school. Through the Parents as Teachers Program, parents are provided comprehensive kindergarten information starting in October the year before the child enrolls in school.
Early Childhood Coordinator Kathy Nicholson said, “It seems logical that we as a school can help parents make smoother transitions with the same opportunities as their children. Our implementation of the Kindergarten Connection has proven this to be the case.”
Representatives from the Palmyra school district will receive the award at the 15th annual National Forum on Character Education which is scheduled Oct. 17-19 in Arlington, Va., just outside Washington, D.C.