Super Origins

As we begin school this week, I wanted to let you know about something new!  At our first faculty meeting of the year, the Sumner Academy teachers approved a new program on character education.  This year will mark the beginning of the Super Citizens Program here at our school.

This character development program is used school wide to emphasize qualities of a good citizen.  Students in grades 1 - 8 are awarded “Super Citizen” cards from classroom and related arts teachers weekly.  Morning announcements focus on character qualities, and teachers may follow-up with classroom discussions, activities and reminders.  Super Citizens are announced at the end of the day on Fridays.  Students who receive a Super Citizen award are given a card after the Friday announcement by the headmaster.

While an assistant principal in the Harrisonburg (Virginia) City Public Schools, I was asked to be on a statewide commission which looked at successful schools around the state.  We visited twelve schools and I was able to pick up lots of great ideas.  In one school in the tidewater region, I noticed signs everywhere around the school.  On lockers, in classrooms, the cafeteria, gymnasium, even in the stalls in the restrooms!  They were one word, RESPECT.  The principal explained that it was their character trait for the month.  She went on to explain that they highlighted a different trait each month and the teachers would make an award at the end of each month to the student who best typified that trait.

Sometime after the visit, I was named principal of Spotswood Elementary School.  As I began to roll those ideas around in my head, the first Super Citizen idea was hatched.  I planned to make it a weekly event instead of monthly and to add an announcement at the end of the week on Friday afternoons.  I designed a card to give to the students so they could take it home and share the good news with their families.  The announcements grew to be a much-anticipated event every Friday afternoon.  We even made the local news one Friday!

I was fortunate to work with four outstanding assistant principals during my tenure in Harrisonburg.  Three of the four have (or had) schools of their own and carried the Super Citizen Program to their schools.

The monthly schedule is as follows:

July/August - Respect, September – Benevolence, October - Responsible, November - Grateful, December – Self-controlled, January - Honest, February - Loving, March - Loyal, April - Forgiving, and May - Persevering.

The greatest joy I get is when your child(ren) get in their car on Friday and show off their card.  What a great sense of accomplishment and celebration!