Character Counts at
Samuel Mickle School
Character Education is an important part of our students’ educational experience at Samuel Mickle. Our goal is to enrich the lives of our students through a focus on 10 specific character traits throughout the year. Our "Character Counts” program emphasizes honesty, respect, citizenship, kindness, responsibility, acceptance, integrity, courtesy, sportsmanship, and patriotism through two tiers: Cashing in on Good Character and Buzzworthy Behavior.
The first tier of the program is called “Cash in on Good Character.” Teachers may reward students with “Buzz Bucks” for demonstrating positive behavior in the classroom, in the hallways, during lunch/recess, and in the bus lanes related to the character trait of the month. Students then write their name on the back of the “Buzz Buck” and place it into their homeroom’s “Buzz Bank.”
Homeroom teachers will choose one “Buzz Buck” from their “Buzz Bank” weekly. The winning student will receive a reward incentive provided by the homeroom teacher. Buzz Bucks will be kept in the homeroom Buzz Bank until the end of the month. On the last school day of the month, Mrs. Evans will make an announcement and spin the wheel for our monthly “Hive Prizes.” Homeroom teachers will choose a “Buzz Buck” from their Buzz Bank for the entire month and that student will receive the “Hive Prize.” All “Buzz Bucks” for the entire month will be sent with the winning student following the wheel spin and morning announcements. Buzz Bucks from each homeroom will be placed in the School-wide Buzz Bank, and the whole school will receive a reward when we meet our school goals.
In addition to our monthly Buzz Bucks, students also have the opportunity to earn Character Counts “Caught Being Good” tickets all year for demonstrating positive behavior, giving 100 %, and being a role model student.
The second tier of the program highlights students from each grade level on our monthly “Buzzworthy Board.” Each grade level team will nominate one boy and one girl to recognize each month and write a brief paragraph highlighting the student and how that student demonstrated the monthly character trait and is an overall “buzzworthy” student. Highlighted students will receive a certificate of appreciation and their photographs will be displayed in the front atrium in our Buzzworthy Student showcase. They will also be recognized in Mrs. Evans’s monthly newsletter and at the monthly board meeting. Highlighted students will also be given the opportunity to be involved in a variety of leadership opportunities throughout the year such as assisting with school tours, introducing guest speakers, and helping with field day and the book fair.
All classes will also have the opportunity to work with a partner homeroom at least once a marking period as a part of our Character Buddies program. During this time, classes will be working together to highlight the trait of their choice through hands-on activities and projects. Sixth grade Lunch Bunch will also be developing songs, skits, and video clips that highlight each trait to share on the morning announcements, as a special segment during lunch, and during quarterly assemblies.
We hope that our Character Counts program will continue to enhance a positive environment in our school. Thank you for all that you do to support our students and for being an essential part of our Samuel Mickle Family.
Looking forward to a FANTASTIC school year!
~Character Education Committee
Character Traits of the Month
Respect
Kindness
Responsibility
Acceptance
Integrity
Perseverance