2008 New Jersey Schools of Character
Program Summaries
New Jersey Schools of Character:
Winners
Grades PreK-4
Brigantine School District
Contact: Mr. Donald A. Marrandino, Principal
301 East Evans Boulevard
Brigantine, NJ 08203
609.264.9501
The goal of the “Whole Child” character education program of the Brigantine Elementary School is to infuse character education into the curriculum throughout each day into everything a child does. Our belief is that character education and academics are inseparable. The whole child must have both. When we talk about the whole child we mean the physical, mental, emotional, and academic needs of all children. The process to achieve this goal is to provide children with the opportunities, on a daily basis, to make good choices to demonstrate compassion, kindness, responsibility, honesty, respect, physical fitness, and high academic achievement. Brigantine’s program teaches children, beginning in kindergarten, the importance of practicing and acquiring strong character traits in order to become productive citizens with high moral and ethical values.
Woodbridge Township School District
Colonia, NJ 07067
Trust, Respect, Responsibility, Caring and Family are the foundation on which Colonia High School stands. The purpose of the school’s character education initiative is to develop and maintain a caring, safe environment for all involved members. Colonia instills the importance of respect and tolerance for all members of the school community. The school understands that defining core values is not sufficient; students must think, feel and behave in ways that correlate with these values, model the core values over time, and develop a lifestyle committed to good character. The school community feels as though good character is essential in the success of all individuals, as well as the success of the school as an educational institution.
Grades PreK-12
Contact: Dr. Lois A Braender, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services
90 Park Avenue
Hamilton, NJ 08690
609.631.4100
Hamilton has a long and impressive history of providing instruction in social emotional and character development district-wide. The children in each of the Hamilton Schools have learned, practiced and demonstrated good character for more than a dozen years. The district is passionate about educating the hearts and minds of their students each day. Students serve on school committees, form clubs, are peer advisors, adopt soup kitchens, participate in community service and service learning projects, help out in their community, engage their family in acts of character and kindness, receive recognition in state and national poster, essay and service contests, hold school wide events like “Mix it up Day” or “No Name Calling Week”, connect character education to school content areas as seen in the Character Education Wax Museum where students researched a notable person of character and created a tribute to them, and much, much more.
Horace Mann Elementary School
Grades K-5
Cherry Hill Public Schools
Contact: Ms. Kimberly Stout
150 Walt Whitman Blvd.
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
856.428.1144
Horace Mann School is a nurturing learning community which offers a challenging academic program, instills character, and fosters life-long learning in order to develop the whole child. This mission shapes the daily life of students, staff, and faculty at Mann, and is supported by the character education initiative. The core values of responsibility, respect, and honesty are found at the heart of the curriculum, modeled in classrooms, hallways, faculty and staff conversations, as well as in communications with parents, families, students and community members. The Mann Plan Committee, as the character education core team is called, consists of teachers, parents, support staff and administrators. At the beginning of each school year, the Mann Plan Committee creates a year-long character education strategy that is supported with assigned character traits and a school wide focus activity, all found in the Mann Plan Book. Ask anyone at Horace Mann and they’ll tell you, “Character education – it’s not just a program, it’s who we are”.
Lawrenceville Elementary School
Grades PreSchool-3
Lawrence Township Public Schools
Contact: Mrs. Kathy Jensen, School Counselor
40 Craven Lane
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
609.671.5571
Lawrenceville Elementary School has based its character education philosophy on the 6 Pillars of Character established by the Josephson Institute. These pillars are: Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Citizenship, Trustworthiness and Fairness. Even the youngest learners can understand these character concepts. Lawrenceville believes that if these values "caring, responsible, contributing citizens of the school community" are developed and reinforced at school they will make ethical decision making an instinctive response in their students’ lives outside of the protective confines of our school grounds. Lawrenceville Elementary School feels that every student is worthy of the highest quality experiences for intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth.
Grades K-5
North Brunswick Township Public Schools
Contact: Ms. Kerry L. Fleming, School Counselor
Ridgewood Avenue
North Brunswick, NJ 08902
732.289.3323
Livingston Park Elementary School believes that good character is developed through teaching, example, and practice. They believe that creating a caring school community is prerequisite to effective teaching and learning. A tone is set throughout the school to promote ethical, academic, and social development. This is done by teaching values through the curriculum in a variety of ways including an original character development program called Project Harmony, which incorporates six themed units: Self Esteem, Conflict Resolution, No Bullies Allowed, Peacemakers, Earth Awareness and World Families. Livingston Park Elementary School’s vision is to continue working with staff, students, families and the surrounding community to create memories today that will change the future for tomorrow.
Grades K-5
Ewing Public Schools
Contact: Mrs. Ernestine D. Austin, Teacher
13 Westwood Drive North
Ewing, NJ 08628
609.538.9800
Lore Elementary School's mission is to create a functional, caring and responsive learning community, where students can grow to be kind, develop self-control, and the capacity to learn and care for themselves and others. The character education program has been refined and restructured to include a social skills curriculum, physical education challenges, school-wide service learning and parent and community involvement. Teachers at Lore School weave threads of positive character development and skills throughout the academic curriculum, enhancing their lessons, and providing a sound educational, social and emotional foundation, while fostering the concepts of community. Lore feels when each member of the school community values the unique attributes, experiences, and ideas of others, the classroom, the school and the local community thrive, both socially and academically.
Grades 6-8
Cherry Hill Public Schools
Contact: Ms. Jennifer L. Parks
485 Browning Lane
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
856.616.8787
Rosa International Middle School is a strong student-centered school. This is evident as administrators, faculty, staff and parents continually review, discuss and explore ways in which to better meet the needs of every child. At Rosa International Middle School a family feeling is achieved by creating a safe environment where every child starts the day with an adult advocate, who pays attention to his/her academic, social and personal well-being. The school is dedicated to character education and the development of respectful, responsible citizens of the world. Some of their unique programs include Raptor’s Claw Awards for exemplary character, the Character Ambassadors who serve as leaders and role-models for their peers, faculty and staff Kudos, and a comprehensive service-learning program.
Grades 1-5
Brick Township School District
Contact: Dr. Alyce Anderson, Principal & Mrs. Jennifer Whitner, Assistant Principal
103 Hendrickson Avenue
Brick, NJ 08724
732.785.3050
The commitment of Veterans Memorial Elementary School to character education is reflected in every aspect of the school environment. The students, faculty and staff of Veterans Memorial Elementary School believe that the educational experience should provide opportunities for the development of the student as a whole person: academically, emotionally, and morally. The school’s character education program has expanded to involve the entire staff, all areas of curriculum, parents, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and now includes a focus on community involvement and service projects. Parental involvement and community support are viewed as essential components needed in achieving the ultimate goal of students becoming caring, respectful and responsible citizens within our schools, homes and community.
Grades K-5
Cherry Hill Public Schools
Contact: Mrs. Tara DiBattista, Christina Boyle, and Mr. Michael Skalski, Teachers
400 Cranford Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
856.429.2058
At Woodcrest Elementary School character education has grown into a school culture were students, staff and parents come together to build upon “The Woodcrest Way.” Beyond the high academic standards that Woodcrest Elementary sets for all their students, they aspire to develop students who are hard working and intrinsically motivated. It is their belief that as they foster well-rounded children who demonstrate both performance and moral character, the community at large will benefit. Woodcrest believes schools, families, and businesses desire trustworthy, responsible, caring, fair, respectful citizens and children must develop these values if they are to excel in life.
New Jersey Schools of Character:
Honorable Mention
Avenel Street School
Grades K-5
Woodbridge Township School District
Contact: Mrs. Jill M. Osborne-Hodes, Principal
230 Avenel Street
Avenel, NJ 07001
732.602.8504
Avenel Street School utilizes a character building value system to create a school community. Observing that the character education dialogue amongst students ended at the classroom door, teachers at Avenel Street School realized that it would be necessary to overcome the natural divisions that children impose on themselves between grade levels and their culturally diverse population. Avenel’s goals include: lowering the barriers of grade identity and ethnic diversity, learning how to make wise choices, building relationships between older and younger students, providing and promoting positive actions toward others, giving back to the community by making a difference, and ensuring a safe school environment. Avenel’s character education program has a clear sense of purpose: choose the correct path in making life and behavioral choices. Avenel Street School has a hope that their students will develop into full-fledged responsible citizens.
Franklin Avenue Middle School
Grades 6-8
Franklin Lakes School District
Contact: Mrs. Georgiann B. Gongora
755 Franklin Avenue
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
201.891.0202
Franklin Avenue Middle School’s infused program was designed not only to continue to build on longstanding tradition of community involvement at FAMS, but to create in the young people who attend the school a respect for themselves, for each other, and for those they encounter in their day to day experiences. The infused character education activities are designed to foster willingness for everyone involved in the school to meet their responsibilities and to develop recognition of the need for engaging in service to the community coupled with a desire to help fill that need. The ultimate goal is to create life-long learners and life-long contributors who are determined to return good will and good deeds not only to the community that instilled these virtues, but to cultivate an ability to recognize and act upon the need to bring this good will and these good acts to other places at other times in their lives.
Holly Glen Elementary School
Grades PreK-4
Monroe Township Public Schools
Contact: Mr. Thomas R. Myers, Principal
900 North Main Street
Williamstown, NJ 08094
856.728.8706
Holly Glen Elementary School believes in the concept of building for the future, where much is being asked but more is being accomplished. A major goal is to provide all children with a positive, challenging and creative learning experience, which empowers them to become responsible and productive citizens. Working together, the staff, students, parents and the community commit themselves to the development of the whole child through the values of family, caring, responsibility, respect and trust. As educators at Holly Glen, we teach our students values each day by means of a core of virtues that are agreed upon at home, in the school and in the community. We teach these core virtues to help students live responsibly and make choices wisely in life now and in the future. These values are infused into the curriculum on a daily basis, which has impacted the school climate tremendously.
Grades PreK-8
Ho-Ho-Kus School District
Contact: Ms. Jannette DiPasquale, School Counselor
70 Lloyd Road
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423
201.652.4555
Achieving an “A” in character has been the goal for Ho-Ho-Kus Public School for the past several years. Socrates defined education as helping students gain both knowledge and virtue, to become both smart and good. This is the primary focus at Ho-Ho-Kus School. On a daily basis the kindergarten – eighth grade staff help their children gain the virtues, the embedded habits that constitute good character. Good character consists of knowing the good, loving the good, and doing the good. The school believes that as educators we must help children understand the core values, adopt or commit to them, and then act upon them in their own lives. The values in Ho-Ho-Kus School’s program are Respect, Responsibility, Compassion, Commitment, Self Discipline, Friendship, Cooperation, Honesty, Environmental Awareness, and Humor/Joy. It is the school’s goal to help raise successful adults, and developing strong character is a key component in reaching that mission.
Lake Riviera Middle School
Grades 6-8
Brick Township Public Schools
Contact: Mrs. Janet Czarnecki, Assistant Principal
171 Beaverson Boulevard
Brick, NJ 08724
732.262.2600
As the Lake Riviera Middle School Character Education Mission Statement proclaims: “Lake Riviera Middle School “Aims for Excellence” by endeavoring to create a supportive and positive environment for students, staff, parents and community members. We strive to respect and understand individual differences while creating a positive moral culture though collaborative efforts.” Lake Riviera develops well-rounded students who demonstrate respect, responsibility and commitment to their academics, as well as their social, home and community activities. Lake Riviera Middle School incorporates academic success though participation in Character Education and Service-Learning. Academically well-rounded programs in core curriculum and special areas, opportunities for social and athletic growth via a vast extracurricular program, character education infusion, as well as committed staff and parent-community involvement have created a recipe for success at Lake Riviera Middle School.
Grades 4-6
Lawrence Township Public Schools
Contact: Mr. Jonathan Dauber, Principal
66 Eggerts Crossing Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
609.671.5532
Lawrence Intermediate School strives to integrate character education into all facets of school life. Monthly character education traits of Respect, Honesty, Friendship, Respect for the Earth, Teamwork, Caring, Courtesy, Uniqueness, and Responsibility reflect the school’s core ethical values. Students, staff, high school peer leaders, and parent volunteers come together to build up the character education program. Lawrence Intermediate School and its character education committee organize programs that give students and teachers a sense of school pride but also afford them the opportunity to develop positive character traits. Due to the successes of the character education committee Lawrence Intermediate School has decided to include character education as one of its Accreditation for Growth goals.
Liberty Corner School
Grades K-5
Bernards Township Public Schools
Contact: Dr. Kathleen A. Pecoraro, Principal
61 Church Street
Liberty Corner, NJ 07938
908.204.2550
Nurturing children who are mindful of moral, ethical and compassionate behaviors and attitudes has become Liberty Corner School’s mission. Numerous service-learning projects underscore our essential commitment to helping students internalize universally accepted moral values such as respect, responsibility and trustworthiness. The community embraces values and morals, which are intricately woven throughout the day into discussions and reflections about exemplary character development. At Liberty Corner School a strong home/school partnership supports efforts to create an environment that encourages and highlights strong character recognizing that family members are the most important role models for their children and are the key players in fostering the internalization of Character Education messages.
Robert R. Lazar Middle School
Grades 6-8
Montville Township School District
Contact: Mrs. Sharon A. Carr, Assistant Principal
123 Changebridge Road
Montville, NJ 07045
973.331.7140
It is the goal of the Robert R. Lazar Middle School, Montville Township, to expose children to as many social-emotional program activities that promote core ethical values as the basis for good character. All programs, initiatives, advisory meetings and team building activities are designed to underscore respect, honesty, responsibility, compassion, and a true understanding of how the self fits into our global community. A multitude of student-driven initiatives and lessons facilitated by committed staff members allow for an understanding of people in need, doing for others, and doing the right things for the right reasons. In an effort to continually meet the social-emotional, and academic needs of all students, we have created, implemented, updated, and perpetuate an outstanding program that is a perfect fit for the “Lazar family – the Lazar way!”
Grades 6-8
Sayreville Public Schools
Contact: Mrs. Doreen Consulmagno,
Student Assistance Counselor
800 Washington Road
Parlin, NJ 08859
732.525.5290
Sayreville Middle School’s character education mission statement is that the school coordinates and provides leadership for the promotion of good character and positive values, and provides opportunities to demonstrate core ethical values. Sayreville Middle School uses two character education programs to promote a positive school climate; the Character Counts! program and the Fish for Schools! Philosophy. At Sayreville Middle School the administrators and teachers model, for their students, positive core values in a caring and helpful environment. Sayreville Middle School believes that it is strong character role modeling from school staff and providing daily opportunities for students to demonstrate their learned core values that will increase student character development and lead to a change in the school climate.
St. Philip’s Academy
Grades K-8
342 Central Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
973.624.1164
St. Philip’s Academy was founded on the ideal that all children deserve an excellent education in an environment where they are nurtured and supported. The school’s mission is to create within its students a love of learning, an intellectual curiosity, and a sense of duty to their community that will enable them to make thoughtful and morally informed decisions throughout their lives. St. Philip’s Academy strives to create a dynamic environment where their high expectations and values of academic excellence are shared and taught through encouragement, leadership, and example. In a city more often known for its crime and violence, St. Philip’s Academy bases everything they do on the principle of love. From love, comes dignity in the individual, then compassion and sensitivity for others, which leads to responsibility.
TEAM Academy Charter School
Grades 5-9
Contact: Mr. Eric J. Fisher, Development Associate for Foundation and Corporate Relations
85 Custer Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
864.380.2865
TEAM Academy Charter School is a part of the national KIPP network, and believes that strong character and a positive school culture are essential aspects of what makes the school truly unique. Students regularly discuss the school’s eight core character traits and reflect on how they can connect to these values. TEAM Academy’s character education philosophy includes not only student behavior, but also how students think and feel by encouraging students to actively debate current issues and their meanings in their lives every day. In each assignment that students undertake, the underlying theme of character development intertwines with the academic rigor of the school to promote an atmosphere of team and family, pushing students to reach their full potential.
New Jersey Schools of Character
Emerging Schools
Bartle Elementary School
Grades 2-5
Highland Park Public Schools
Contact: Mrs. Victoria Poedubicky, School Counselor
435 Mansfield Avenue
Highland Park, NJ 08904
732.572.4100
Bartle Elementary School believes social emotional and character development is a natural integration into every child’s daily education instruction, and strives to bring it on a par with academics. The ultimate goal is to provide every student with the skills and tools to become ethical, upstanding students and adults. Bartle Elementary School has taken their program from individual classrooms, to the school wide community, and then to a district wide level in order to sustain education in this area for the long haul. Bartle Elementary School encourages students to participate in character development activities, but also to own both their successes and short-comings as students and as people.
Pennsauken Campus of Camden County
Grades 9-12
Camden County School District
Contact: Mrs. Bonnie S. Durante, Assistant Principal
6008 Browning Road
Pennsauken, NJ 08109
856.663.1040
The administration, staff and auxiliary personnel at Camden County Technical School, the Pennsauken campus, work in unison to help develop the character education activities that lead to responsible students with valued core beliefs. The academic curriculum promotes nonthreatening learning environments for all students. School staff members at all levels are consistent with our expectations and practices in fostering values of taking responsibility for one’s actions, showing respect for one another, and demonstrating a true care and concern for one another in the school community as well as for others in the surrounding community. Camden County Technical School, the Pennsauken campus, is proud of their students’ participation in extracurricular activities outside of the school, because the students are proud of themselves and of the school they represent.
Upper Freehold Regional School District
Grades PreK-12
Contact: Mr. Brian Myslinski, High School Vice Principal
27 High Street
Allentown, NJ 08501
609.259.2160
The Upper Freehold Regional School District is committed to instilling moral excellence in all our students. Character Education is integrated into all aspects of the school community, the elementary, middle and high school, preparing students to make good life choices. The principles defining our character education initiatives foster values that transcend our classroom, to create partnerships locally, nationally and internationally. The district’s programs emphasize Cooperation, Assertiveness, Respect/Responsibility, Empathy, and Self Control for all students and staff. Building character through moral excellence has become a way of life in the Upper Freehold Regional School District.