“Character education is not just another thing to be added
to the plate. It is the plate.” –Dr. Kevin Ryan
Please scroll to the bottom to view this month's Character Column!
Food Drive info at the bottom



    Bayberry's Character Education Program emphasizes a school wide approach with a strong classroom support component. Each month we celebrate a different character trait. Each trait is to be addressed every year and it is to insure that each student who completes five years at Bayberry will have been exposed to each trait 5 different times. The monthly traits are...



September-Responsibility
October-Self-Esteem/Pride
November-Caring/Compassion
December-Respect/Courtesy
January-Tolerance/Patience
February-Honesty/Fairness
March-Diligence/Perseverance
April-Cooperation/Good Sportsmanship
May-Loyalty/Citizenship
June-Courage

Each trait of the month is celebrated by:

• Student work displayed on bulletin boards advertising the trait of the
   month located on "Sensitivity Street".
• Celebrations of the trait of the month.
• Awards related to demonstrating the trait of the month.
• Classroom activities related to traits of the month.
• School-wide activities/assemblies relating to the trait of the month.
• Parent newsletter (The Character Column) relating to the trait of the month.
• Morning quotes relating to the trait of the month.
• Grade level and or team activities relating to the trait of the month.
• Character Education lessons conducted by the school counselor relating
   to the trait of the month.
• Conscious implementation of strategies designed to develop character.
• Posters and phrases on the traits and behaviors related to the traits.
• Use of literature that has themes related to the traits.

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Guidance Services

Implement classroom guidance lessons and programs focusing on self and others; coping strategies, peer relationships and effective social skills, communication, problem solving, decision-making, conflict resolution and character education, bullying and multicultural awareness.
Provide individual and small group counseling dealing with self-esteem, personal adjustment, family issues, interpersonal concerns, coping and loss, anxiety, social skills, anger management, Newcomers Club(Newberries), behavior modifications, and Peer Mediation (Varies year to year depending on student needs).
Train 4th grade student to be peer mediators and help other students solve conflicts and problems during recess.
Work with populations that require special attention, such as culturally diverse populations, students with special needs, and students coping with loss.

Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Program

As part of our bullying program, Bayberry has implemented a Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Program. Bayberry has adopted the Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Program from the NJ State Bar Foundation. It’s necessary that all students and staff use the same language and have consistent guidelines in dealing with conflict. When all the students at Bayberry are familiar with the same language and terms in dealing with conflict, 4th grade peer mediators will begin mediation on the playground at recess. These specially selected students will be using the skills I have taught them in their Peer Mediator training which takes place in th fall.

   All Bayberry students will participate in a service learning project with their grade level. Service learning is a form of project-based learning in which academic goals are accomplished through community service. Service learning develops citizenship and good character, and provides a rich context for academic instruction and student learning.

    The projects will satisfy specific curriculum objectives and involve the students in preparation, implementation, and reflection. The teachers will be helping the students select an appropriate project, organize the project themselves, integrate the project into the curriculum, develop a work plan, brainstorm a list of tasks determining their most logical sequence, and guide the students through the necessary steps to completion.

School Wide Activities
School-wide activities help unify the staff and
student body when celebrating certain character traits.

November

Caring and Compassion

            Random Acts of Kindness

     During the month of November students participate in Random Acts of Kindness . All students have the opportunity to catch someone else perform a kind act during the school day. This can be something very small becasue, "No act of kindness, however small, goes unnoticed." At the end of the week, each act is written on a link in a classroom chain. At the end of the month, each classroom chain is hung to unify the halls of Bayberry.







January

Tolerance/Patience



Peacemakers of Bayberry

     To celebrate tolerance and diversity Bayberry students vote for a "Peacemaker" in their class. The classroom teacher and student will discuss the criteria that the student should possess before nominating someone. The person chosen will be someone who consistently displays tolerance and respectful behvior toward others both in and out of the classroom. After the peacemaker of the class is chosen, the class outlines the student's body on paper and writes why that individual is a peacemaker. The selected Peacemakers of Bayberry are then displayed on the walls of "Peacemaker Parkway" at the end of the month.



Caught Being Good



Throughout the school year, each student has the opportunity to be "Caught Being Good". All staff members are always on the look-out for students who demonstrate kindness and respect with their peers in the classroom, on the playground, in the lunch room, and in the halls. Those students who are "Caught" get their picture taken and hung on the Caught Being Good Board located on Loyalty Lane.

Mix it up at Lunch Day
On November 13th Bayberry, along with millions of students in thousands of schools will be have Mix it up at Lunch Day. This is a simple call to action for students, asking them to step out of their comfort zones to meet new people and develop new friendships. Student in grades 1 through 4 will sit next to someone in their class who they would typically not sit with. We promote "Mix it Up" by hanging posters around the school. 4th grade peer mediators will be asked to raise awareness about the day by going around to classes and talking about Mix it Up day soliciting peer participation.

No Name Calling Week
No Name Calling Week is an annual week of Educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools to eliminate bullying. Bayberry student participate in No Name Calling Week by wearing colors to represent ideas that show they are against name calling in any grade.

As you Leave this Website Remember To...
Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply and Speak Kindly.