Vol, 7, No. 7: February 18, 2008		Get SEAchange by email

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4. Character education award

At Waukesha North High School, students grades 9-11 have a short "class" every day that isn't quite like their other classes. It's led by a teacher but it's not in that teacher's usual academic subjects. Instead, it's a chance to build character and develop life, social, and general academic skills.

It's called the Daily Advisory Program.

"There are not many other high schools [with] a program like this," says Physics Teacher Sarah Bristol, who coordinates the advisory program. "It is a time of day where students can 'relax' a little and learn about different ideas that will impact their whole lives."

Students stay with one teacher for three years. The teacher does "grade checks" to see how students are doing in all of their classes. To help them improve, students work on skills like test-preparation and literacy.

The program also has a weekly character education theme to address issues that will be of use to students throughout their lives--such as compassion, organization, or self-confidence.

The final component is relationship-building, where students get involved in the community, learn to work well with teachers, and cultivate a sense of belonging at the school.

"Our entire staff decided this was something we needed to do to help our students both in their academic performance and their personal growth," says Bristol.

Last year, Waukesha North's program won one of five Promising Practices Awards presented statewide by First Lady Jessica Doyle on behalf of the Wisconsin Character Education Partnership.

The Promising Practices Awards Program recognizes unique educational practices that are demonstrably contributing to students' character development. This year's awards are now on the horizon, with an application deadline of March 15. Honorees will be sent to the Fourth Annual Character Education Conference this summer, an event hosted in Waukesha by the Jefferson School District.

The topics covered by this article were suggested by SEAchange subscribers. Submit your own ideas via email to benson.gardner@dpi.wi.gov, with the words "SEAchange story idea" in the subject line. We are looking for exciting education programs, promising practices, initiatives that could benefit from publicity, or even topics that just pique your curiosity.

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Last updated on 2/18/2008