Photo by Elizabeth Jury
Kindergarten student Jackson Walters proudly poses with his parents and respect certificate.
The auditorium at A. Ward Spaulding School was buzzing with excitement as all students from preschool through second grade gathered together to honor the importance of respect as part of the school’s character education program, Spaulding Stars. The sea of blue Spaulding Star t-shirts, worn by students and staff, symbolized the unifying effect of the whole school assembly.
The Spaulding Star program focuses on teaching, modeling, and honoring the character traits of respect, responsibility, and kindness. These traits are celebrated every day in every classroom through lessons and teaching practices that align with both Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) and Responsive Classroom frameworks. The assembly began with a discussion of the meaning of respect and lessons that had been taught in the classrooms earlier in the week. All of the students were recognized and applauded as the number of Spaulding Star certificates currently earned was reviewed and celebrated – 738 in total so far this year! A slide show was presented that depicted examples of Spaulding Star students from each grade demonstrating respect throughout the school. Additional recognition was given to two students from each grade as they were awarded respect certificates. The culminating activity unified the school in song as they were led by the school’s music teacher, Wyn Jespersen, in singing Respect is Something if You Give it Away.
This program reinforces the commitment the Spaulding School community has made to foster the social emotional growth of our students and it serves as a key measure of the school’s improvement plan of providing quality social emotional programming for all students. Spaulding Stars shine with respect, responsibility and kindness each and every day!