Chester Elementary School

By Jane Cavanaugh, Social Worker

From the outside, Chester Elementary School in Chester, CT, looks like many small-town elementary schools scattered across the state. However, there is a remarkably different look and feel as you enter the building. Inside the front door a large bulletin board entitled “We Are a Learning and Caring Community” is posted with the words “Respect,” “Responsibility,” “Safe,” and “Prepared” and filled with pictures of students participating in school activities. One section of this board features service-learning with an explanation of the concept and photos of students engaged in projects such as collecting food for a local soup kitchen. Throughout the building, stoplights inscribed with “Stop,” “Think,” and “Go” serve as visual reminders to help students use problem-solving steps that are taught and modeled at Chester.

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Connecticut's Asset-Based Character Education Conference

More than 500 participants attended Connecticut’s third Assets-Based Character Education Conference in 2001. Positive comments about the conference included “Outstanding!” “Excellent to include youth!” “I feel invigorated!” and “Excellent practical activities integrating character education.” On May 2, 2002, The School for Ethical Education is hosting Connecticut’s fourth conference, and this year’s event promises to be equally enriching.

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Registrations Now Being Accepted!

Connecticut's Assets-Based Character Education Conference will be held May 2, 2002 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Meriden, CT. The cost is $70.00 per adult and $35.00 per student. Registration is required. Walk-in registrations not accepted. To download the registration form or for more information, including workshop descriptions, visit the Conference section of the SEE web site or contact Ellen Almeida by e-mail at ealmeida@ethicsed.org, by telephone at (203) 783-4438, or by mail at SEE, 440 Wheelers Farms Road, Milford, CT 06460.

Planning Professional Development or Youth Leadership Seminars?

• Identifying shared values and character goals to unify a school, district, club or community
• Teaching character-development principles for the head, heart, and hands
• Creating classroom or club meeting strategies for a caring learning environment
• Developing moral discipline by using character goals to set positive expectations
• Integrating character goals throughout the academic or activity curriculum
• Using cooperative learning to promote positive character
• Developing a service-learning program that highlights ethical reflection
• Modeling ethical decision making with character goals
• Connecting conflict resolution to character outcomes
• Strategic planning and program implementation for comprehensive character education
• Program evaluation