Shepaug's Call for Character

By David Telesca, Principal Shepaug Valley Middle School

Character education has been recognized as an integral component of school reform and student development. To highlight this important topic, Shepaug Valley Middle School in Washington, CT, hosted a first annual Character Education Conference on October 6, 2000. Students, teachers, members of the community, and guests participated in this full-day event.

The conference was organized to emphasize the importance of cultivating positive character and strategic ways to accomplish character development. A consensus achieved earlier by the community and Shepaug Valley Middle School resulted in establishing a common vocabulary focused on values such as honesty, caring, citizenship, courage, respect and responsibility. The conference was a first step in opening doors to students and staff to further discussion and activities that promote character development.

Keynote speaker Valerie Tutson opened the ceremony by sharing inspirational stories to motivate students to explore ways to develop good character. Workshops served as a venue for exploration and discovery and covered a variety of issues affecting students. Topics included Ethics in the Media, Dealing with Peer Pressure, Teen Issues and the Law, What Students Can Do to Prevent School Violence, Choices and Consequences (an interview with Niantic Prison Inmates), Disability Awareness and Volunteerism. All students attended a workshop on Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation. This workshop introduced students to peer mediation and provided strategies to manage conflicts effectively and quickly through peer mediation. 

Students had an opportunity to attend a workshop facilitated by The Hamden Middle School Concert Choir. The choir wrote a selection entitled "Expressing Character through Vocal Music." As the finale of the day, the Hamden Middle School Concert Choir and students who participated in the workshop presented a wonderful performance through music.

Students noted that participating in conference workshops helped them understand "how to communicate better with friends." Workshops also provided a different view for some students as they learned "to have a new perspective on how to look at things in life." Some students felt empowered to become actively involved in the community and commented "It doesn't matter who you are...you can make a difference." 

The conference was an outstanding event and an important way to set the stage for many conversations focusing on positive character traits and student development.