Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.” In the Pulaski County School System, we continually look for ways to help our children become better learners AND better people. Although our primary responsibility is to educate children in reading, writing, and math, we would be amiss to think that academics alone constitute what makes a positive contributor for our community.

Since implementation 8 years ago, the Character Education initiative has become a community effort. It has grown beyond the words in the guiding principles that include responsibility, loyalty, courage, respect, compassion, optimism, honesty, initiative, perseverance, trustworthy, contemplation and adaptability. Words have been put into action with the implementation of various programs and initiatives.

Character Education is not the responsibility of one entity, but a community working together for our future. The annual Feud for Food exemplifies what a community is capable of when we work together. Through the Feud for Food initiative over the past 8 years, nearly 150,000 of non perishable food items have been donated to local charities. The 9th annual Feud for Food is scheduled for November 3 – 14.

Word of the Month

 

Each Month, Pulaski County Schools features a different character guiding principle or virtue. The Word of the Month is the largest part of the Character-Centered Teaching initiative. Each word represent different facets of character that combine to reinforce a series of attributes,  behaviors, and perspectives that constitute good character.

 

 August
RESPONSIBILITY

September
LOYALTY

 October
COURAGE

 

November
RESPECT

December
COMPASSION

January
OPTIMISM

February
HONESTY

March
INITIATIVE

April
PERSEVERANCE

May
TRUSTWORTHY

June
CONTEMPLATION

July
ADAPTABILITY

 

Special Thanks to Yuba County Schools for their resource contribution

 

 

Northern’s Character Award Winners

August:  Responsibility     Zachery Smiley, student         Glynis Clayton, teacher   

September:  Loyalty         Ambrozia Demmitt, student   Molly Johnson, Instructional Assistant 

October:  Courage           Grant King, student                Abel Logan, teacher

November:  Respect         Dylan Stewart, student           Lisa Dykes, teacher    

December:  Compassion

January:  Optimism

February:  Honesty

March:  Initiative

April:  Perseverance

May:  Trustworthy

 

Debbie Wiles, Character Coach