Heritage Elementary is located in Kansas City, Kansas, nestled in a small southern suburb. We are a changing K-6 school with recently added preschool and emotionally/behaviorally disturbed programs. As the school counselor I am privileged to work with all students, families and teachers. Our school, as a whole, is a great place to be and we focus on teaching our students accountability.
Creating a positive school climate is always one of my goals. We recently implemented a "Class of the Month" program to help improve our absences and tardies. The class with the least amount of tardies and absences wins a prize at the end of the month(generously donated by Outback Steakhouse). We'd like to take a picture of the winning class and hang it in the entrance of our school. In addition to this program, we'd like to start acknowledging random acts of kindness by starting a "Shout Out" program. Anytime a student or teacher witnesses someone showing kindness to another Heritage citizen, they may recognize them by documenting the act and having it announced during the morning announcements. In consideration of these programs, our biggest obstacle is not owning a digital camera.
By recognizing positive virtues I believe we can make a difference in our students' lives. By having two cameras readily available we can take posed photographs (for Class of the Month or Shout Outs) and/or impromptu pictures. For example, each morning we have student ambassadors helping preschool and kindergarteners get out of cars and into the school, we have a recycling program run by fourth grade students, and older students helping younger students with academic challenges everyday. By taking a picture of these moments the children will be able to see our guiding principles everyday, in person or by photographs throughout the school.
By helping our students identify positive lifeskills and virtues in life we are preparing them for a successful school year and lifetime of kindness. You can help us build happy, confident, and respectful students at the elementary level. The middle schools, high schools and eventually society will thank you.
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