June NJSOC Spotlight
Lawrenceville Elementary School
"Taking Stock - Reflection & Celebration"
From a second grader:
“What makes us special is that we have many bucket fillers at LES. A bucket filler is a person who fills imaginary buckets. The more stuff you have in the bucket, the happier you are.”
(Based on the theme of Carol McCloud’s book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today.)
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Awesome Assembly featuring a first grader and kindergarten teacher Jeffrey Berry who had their heads shaved to benefit cancer research. |
LES has been committed to character education and service learning over the course of the past nine years. Our third grade CARE (Children Acting Responsibly Everyday) Kids are the service learning leaders who guide the school through the monthly
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We pulled some AWESOME weeds out of our garden. |
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Comparing the weight of the food we collected for the Thanksgiving Food Drive to the weight of a mako shark. |
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Hearing about hunger in Mercer County at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. |
I-movies are another means used at LES for reflection and celebration, with photos and video clips of our children and staff set to inspirational music. We have also stepped up the frequency of our press releases, sharing our “awesome” accomplishments with the public. Every member of our learning community has embraced character education, knowing that LES is an AWESOME place to learn and grow!
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Awesome singing by our third graders at the nursing home on Valentine's Day. |
What has changed?
“Our focus at Lawrenceville Elementary School is not only academic achievement, for we focus on the whole child. We do this through our character education initiative.”
Judith McLaughlin, Principal, LES
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Why was LES recognized as a NJ School of Character for 2008 and 2009? Here are some of the ‘awesome' reasons why! |
“As a Mom, I believe it is my job to teach my children right from wrong, compassion towards others, respect and responsibility. At LES, our children not only have these qualities reinforced but they are given opportunities to act upon them; they become a natural part of their personalities. I love watching my boys as they demonstrate these characteristics at home, with the neighbors and within the community. I especially love when they’re not even aware that they’re doing it!”
“Volunteering”
By Susan Rooney, Third Grade Teacher
Watching and learning about the Soup Kitchen was surely an interesting and worthy mission.
Riding to Trenton we saw many things that make up a city; building, factories, businesses, apartments and people who seem so very busy.
Arriving at the Soup Kitchen we were graciously greeted. Unloaded our goods that are so very needed.
We saw where they keep and store, canned good, grooming products, dry good and much more…
Preparing, counting, cooking and sure.
So many volunteers working so hard to help the poor!
As we said good-bye, after the sharing we realized how so lucky we are to have families, teachers and friends that are caring.
Thank you Ms. Jensen, Mrs. Sine, Ms. Young, Mrs. Fuller and the PTO! Surely without your support we could not go!
Next stop the Nursing Home. We were greeted with smiles from our friends who have lived and walked many, many miles.
We knew they enjoyed our laughter and singing, as they clapped and cheered, our ears were just ringing.
We are aware of the needy, the ill and the aged. Thank you Ms. Jensen for teaching us lessons that show us the pages
The stories are sometimes happy and sometimes sad
We are happy to know we CAN make people glad.
Our message to you is one of importance
Remember all in our country…the poor, aged and ill
Give volunteering your best and good will.
How lucky you are at LES
All students can be CARE Kids and give it their best!
Each letter or card that you invent
Thanks to Mrs. Monteleone and Mrs. Harmon, will be sent
Our message is easy and simple to read…just follow the letters and take the lead:
V-O-L-U-N-T-E-E-R-I-N-G I-S G-R-E-A-T!
Riding to Trenton we saw many things that make up a city; building, factories, businesses, apartments and people who seem so very busy.
Arriving at the Soup Kitchen we were graciously greeted. Unloaded our goods that are so very needed.
We saw where they keep and store, canned good, grooming products, dry good and much more…
Preparing, counting, cooking and sure.
So many volunteers working so hard to help the poor!
As we said good-bye, after the sharing we realized how so lucky we are to have families, teachers and friends that are caring.
Thank you Ms. Jensen, Mrs. Sine, Ms. Young, Mrs. Fuller and the PTO! Surely without your support we could not go!
Next stop the Nursing Home. We were greeted with smiles from our friends who have lived and walked many, many miles.
We knew they enjoyed our laughter and singing, as they clapped and cheered, our ears were just ringing.
We are aware of the needy, the ill and the aged. Thank you Ms. Jensen for teaching us lessons that show us the pages
The stories are sometimes happy and sometimes sad
We are happy to know we CAN make people glad.
Our message to you is one of importance
Remember all in our country…the poor, aged and ill
Give volunteering your best and good will.
How lucky you are at LES
All students can be CARE Kids and give it their best!
Each letter or card that you invent
Thanks to Mrs. Monteleone and Mrs. Harmon, will be sent
Our message is easy and simple to read…just follow the letters and take the lead:
V-O-L-U-N-T-E-E-R-I-N-G I-S G-R-E-A-T!
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All of Lawrenceville Elementary School had a ‘hand' in winning a Promising Practices Award from CEP for "Teaching Empathy to Young Children Through Service Learning. |
From a second grader:
“What makes us special is that we have many bucket fillers at LES. A bucket filler is a person who fills imaginary buckets. The more stuff you have in the bucket, the happier you are.” (Based on the theme of Carol McCloud’s book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today.)
“New Jersey School of Character Song”
Lyrics by Kathy Jensen, School Counselor
Tune – “The Caissons Song” by Brig. Gen. Edmund L. Gruber
Lyrics by Kathy Jensen, School Counselor
Tune – “The Caissons Song” by Brig. Gen. Edmund L. Gruber
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First graders are marching to LES' ‘New Jersey School of Character Song' at our Awesome Assembly. |
We are kind,
We are fair,
When a friend's
In need we care!
As the dragons
Go rolling along!
We are brave
We are true,
Knowing right
From wrong we do!
As the dragons
Go rolling along!
For it's hi, hi, he
Passionately,
Shout out your
Traits loud and strong....one, two!
Caring
Citizenship
Fairness
Respect
Responsibility
Trustworthiness
Where e're we go
You will always know
We're a New Jersey School of Character!
Keep on rollin'
We're a New Jersey School of Character!
We are fair,
When a friend's
In need we care!
As the dragons
Go rolling along!
We are brave
We are true,
Knowing right
From wrong we do!
As the dragons
Go rolling along!
For it's hi, hi, he
Passionately,
Shout out your
Traits loud and strong....one, two!
Caring
Citizenship
Fairness
Respect
Responsibility
Trustworthiness
Where e're we go
You will always know
We're a New Jersey School of Character!
Keep on rollin'
We're a New Jersey School of Character!
Books - Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud
Websites www.HodgesBadge.com Source for “Awesome” ribbons.
www.bucketfillers101.com You can subscribe to their newsletter on this website.
www.drjean.org Search for her cheer cards for many affirmations that can be used in the classroom and at assemblies.
Kathy Jensen is School Counselor at Lawrenceville Elementary School
Lawrenceville Elementary School
40 Craven Lane
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Contact telephone number: (609) 671-5570
URL: http://www.lawrence.k12.nj.us/Lawrenceville.cfm?subpage=42133
Lawrenceville Elementary School is a
2008 New Jersey School of Character
Many adults helped to make character education happen at Lawrenceville Elementary School. Here some of them accept the 2009 New Jersey School of Character Award.
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Many adults helped to make character education happen at Lawrenceville Elementary School. Here some of them accept the 2009 New Jersey School of Character Award. |