A scene from a school assembly

Kennerly School kids show "respect"
with disaster fund drive

Kids and their families at Kennerly Elementary School have given new meaning to the school's character word "respect." They used it to raise $3,000 for aid to victims of the World Trade Center disaster.

Last year, the Lindbergh School District school was one of only 10 schools in the U.S. to earn a National School of Character award. That honor recognized the school's total program of character education.

Each month, the character program centers around a special word. The character word for September was "respect."

The school decided to raise money for the Salvation Army's relief efforts. Kids brought in donations of their own and from their families.

Samantha Harris

Eleven-year-old Samantha Harris said, "We wanted to show respect for the people who died there."

One special effort saw Kennerly kids hand-make small patriotic pins and flags out of string and beads. These sold in the halls for 25 and 50 cents and brought in $120.

The overall $3,000 was accomplished in just one week's time. These fund-raising efforts fit right into the school's regular program of character education.

The normal program includes a monthly all-school assembly where kids present a skit based on the character word of the month. Also, three kids from each classroom develop a project to demonstrate the meaning of the word.

There's also a Friendship Circle. Kids who have arguments stand in the circle and work out non-violent answers to disagreements.

Once a month, the whole school plans some way show others what the month's word means. For instance, in the past, the kids demonstrated the word "respect" by giving each bus driver a gift of a cookie or donut.

There are school-wide "Hero Parades" where kids dress up like some person they admire.

Frank Albenesius

Ten-year-old Frank Albenesius admits he used the Friendship Circle to settle an argument with some friends. "A couple of my friends wouldn't let me play tag with them on the playground," the fifth grader said.

"We stood in the classroom Friendship Circle where we could see the playground where we had the argument," he said. Frank said, after a calm discussion, "they let me play tag."

The Friendship Circle has four parts to it. First, the kids who had an argument each get to explain their side of the story. Second, they practice "madness management" where they have to listen quietly.

Third, they have a "caring" discussion. Finally, they have to decide how to handle the argument without having a fight.

Matt LaGrotta

Another part of the character education is when kids get up in class to demonstrate what the month's word means. Last year, nine-year-old Matt LaGrotta made a talk in front of his class about the December word "caring."

"I made a paper heart and then wrote on it something that made me sad. Then, I told the class that people calling me names hurt my feelings," he said. After saying that, he ripped up the paper heart to show how he felt.

The fourth grader said he enjoys the character education activities. "When you do things for each other, it makes you feel good about yourself," he said.

Ten-year-old Bria Williams said her social studies class made American flags to show respect for World Trade Center victims. The flags were posted on school walls, she said.

About the character activities, the fourth grader said, "The program helps us show how we should have character all the time, not just when the teacher is watching."

Bria Williams

Evidence of the character education program is everywhere in the school.

At the main entrance, there is a Beacon of Character. That's a tall, home-made lighthouse that kids see every day when they come to school.

The character words for each month are stenciled on the walls of the school gym. There's also a character billboard on the wall where pictures of the school assemblies are kept.

Samantha Harris said she thinks the program "helps to keep disagreements between students down." Concerning her relations with his younger brother, Nicholas, she said, "We get along most of the time."

But, Frank Albenesius admits he still has difficulties with his older brother at home.