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Babylon Memorial Grade School
169 Park Avenue
Babylon, New York 11702
Main Office: (631) 893-7980
Principal: Eric Freidman
Hours: 8:25 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.
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Important June Calendar Update
Please be reminded, as indicated on the District Calendar, that on Wednesday, June 23 and Thursday June 24, Grade School children will be dismissed at 11:00. This represents different scheduling than in the past. Please know also, that we are going to change our Grade 6 moving-up Day to Tuesday, June 22 at 9:00 A.M. at Rowe Hall.
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
We are pleased with our first half of the 2009-2010 school year and hope you feel the same. I would like to review a little, based on our earlier Principal’s Message and inform you about some focus areas going forward for the year.
You have heard me regularly express the view that we can help grow the character of children in a school setting. Indeed, the behavior of the student body and their participation in a myriad of do-good projects serves as some positive evidence that the whole school community has bought into our previously articulated Moral Character Pillars: Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Empathy. This initial focus basically asked the question, “How can we be nice?”
Over the past few months, teachers have collaborated in broadening our focus, asking the question, “How can we be smart?” Work in this area is supported by an expanding body of research (Thomas Lickona and Character Education Partnership) on what is being called Performance Character. Using a cooperative learning structure, all teachers contributed input in identifying four new Performance Character Pillars described below:
Perseverance means to work hard and steadily on challenging tasks so we can do our best work. By persevering through a difficult task, children can feel the thrill of success. This Pillar can be described
with such words/examples-determination, drive, commitment, effort and endurance. |
| Accountability means to accept responsibility for, otherwise described as ownership for completing important tasks so we can do our best work. By being accountable for their actions, children will better understand the relationship between best effort and best work. This Pillar can be described with such words/examples-self-discipline, work ethic, commitment, diligence and integrity. |
Participation means to choose to become involved in important learning opportunities so we can do our best work. By participating academically and socially-children, teachers and parents together
can create the best team possible. This Pillar can be described with such words/examples-enthusiasm, assertiveness, energy, confidence, initiative and positive attitude. |
| Resourcefulness means to explore various ways to solve a problem or complete a challenging task so we can do our best work. By being resourceful, children gain comfort using a wider range of strategies/tools. This Pillar can be described with such words/examples-creativity, curiosity and imagination. |
Our Character Education Committee put together a substantial collection of lessons classified according to these Performance Character Pillars and distributed a binder to every teacher. Teachers are beginning to use these ideas and we are discussing their classroom experiences at regular Grade Level Meetings. We hope to develop some best practice guidelines in the future.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank students, parents and staff for supporting our Hope for Haiti Project, netting $3,500.00 to UNICEF in about a week’s time. Perhaps more importantly, we did not just have kids “bring in a dollar” and “just serve as a transporter of their parents’ funds.” Rather, we creatively structured the activity to engage children with their thought and time in doing good for others.
I’d like to leave you with one student’s product (Emma Schubart) in Mr. Rossi’s Grade 5 class. It was a lesson that took kids from the U.S. Constitution’s Preamble to the Grade School’s Preamble. She wrote:
| “We the students of Babylon Memorial Grade School, in Order to form a more perfect building, will treat each other with respect. We will be honest about everything and we will take responsibility for our actions. We will show empathy towards others and take accountability for what we do. We will participate daily in class activities. We will persevere to reach our goals. We will use the resourcefulness of the school for our education. We, the students of Babylon Memorial Grade School will take the initiative to do what is right anywhere, everywhere and everyday.” |
Clearly, Character Counts at Babylon Memorial Grade School!
The Character Education Partnership in Washington, DC (www.character.org) identifies Babylon Memorial Grade School as one of 11 Outstanding Schools for Positive Youth Development in the United States.
P.S. Next Principal’s Message will focus on information about Response to Intervention and the Grade School Courtyard.
Eric Freidman
Principal
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