Character Education
Overview
Character is essential. Individuals that posses character are far more likely to achieve long term success in life. At Merritt Academy, we have embraced our responsibility to teach character to the next generation. While many schools rely on teachers to create and model their own lessons in character, we use a comprehensive curriculum that provides structure, consistency and high quality lesson plans. In the same way an academic curriculum is used to teach academics, our character curriculum provides a developmentally challenging plan to grow strong, quality character in our students. We invite you to learn more about our approach to character education, and to join us in training children who can make a positive impact on our world.
Our Beliefs
- Character development is essential to attaining long term success in life.
- Character cannot be learned alone; it must be instilled by men & women who already have it.
- Character development can be significantly enhanced by using a well built structured curriculum.
Character & Etiquette
Our program covers many subject areas related to character. Children in each age level study developmentally appropriate and challenging topics in the subject areas below.
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Within each of the subject areas above, teachers cover a variety of topics that help children build character. Some of these topics are direct skills students can learn and apply (e.g. answering the phone properly), while other topics are focused on helping students develop the skills required to make wise decisions. Some example topics include:
- How and why we shake hands
- Introducing a friend to another person or group
- Correct ways to set a table
- Showing respect to other people
- Understanding when and when not to share
In addition, the school as a whole focuses on two values each month. Children participate in projects, group discussions, story times & dramatic play to help reinforce the truth of these values.
January: Caring and Patience |
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July: Citizenship and Loyalty |
February: Love and Honesty |
August: Cooperation and Initiative |
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March: Kindness and Forgiveness |
September: Respect and Attentiveness |
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April: Courage and Tolerance |
October: Sharing and Self-control |
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May: Helpfulness and Perseverance |
November: Thankfulness and Responsibility |
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June: Politeness and Neatness |
December: Joyfulness and Wisdom |
National Recognition
Merritt Academy is the proud recipient of the 1999 National School of Character Award, a prestigious honor awarded to a handful of schools across the country for their outstanding character education programs. - The award is sponsored by the Character Education Partnership (CEP), a national nonprofit coalition based in Washington, D.C.
Second Step Program
Second Step, a part of Merritt Academy's character education program, is a curriculum published by the Committee for Children. It is a whole-school approach to character education and includes:
- Empathy training
- Impulse control
- Problem-solving
- Anger Management
These skills are taught by the school counselor, reinforced and role-modeled by classroom teachers, assistants and other staff, and are practiced by students as part of classroom instruction. The goal is to teach children to treat each other with respect, kindness, and tolerance, to develop self-regulation skills, and to be able to problem-solve without escalation to violence. This curriculum nicely supports the Merritt Academy Code of Courtesy and the character traits which are taught each month on a rotating basis.
Merritt AcademyHope is very special
Caring is important too
Lots of people are creative
Lots are loving too
All these values are important
In doing the best you can do
Be appreciative of what you have
This will make you a better you!
5th Grade Student