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Board of Education launches character education initiative
 Release Date: Dec. 12, 2007

Nominate a student today!

• Salamone receives Lifetime Achievement in Submit nominations to the Board of Education at boe@bcsd.neric.org.

• All community members are encouraged to nominate students

• The act of outstanding character does not have to take place in a school setting

• Read Board President Jim Lytle's letter (PDF document) to BC staff about the initiative

Character might be best measured by what someone does when no one is watching, but the Bethlehem Central Board of Education wants students to know that outstanding character is recognized.

This week, in a letter to all staff members, the Board launched an effort to learn about – and honor – extraordinary acts of character on the part of BC students.

“Knowledge, character and value’ are the goals of our district. But although we acknowledge academic athletic, artistic and musical excellence, we have not formally developed a means, district-wide, to reward extraordinary examples of good character,” Board President James Lytle wrote to staff members explaining that the Board would like to change that with a new Bethlehem Central tradition.

The Board is seeking nominations, of students who have shown remarkable character. The Board anticipates that it will acknowledge, in some way, every student who is brought to its attention, and plans to single out extraordinary acts among staff submissions for special recognition at upcoming Board meetings. The Board may also hold a reception toward the end of the year to honor all nominated students.

All community members are encouraged to nominate deserving students; The act of outstanding character does not have to take place in a school setting. Nominations should include a narrative with as much detail to explain why the student is deserving of the recognition.

The Board is following the lead of BC Middle School, which holds quarterly Character Award Breakfasts to honor students who have shown character in a variety of ways.

Invoking a phrase oft-used by Middle School Principal Jody Monroe, Lytle suggested that if character can best be measured when no one is watching, then the Board is depending on staff members and the community to be its eyes and ears.

“While even basic acts of good citizenship should be encouraged and acknowledged, we are hoping to recognize acts of good character that are somewhat more noteworthy and extraordinary — but we need your help to do so,” Lytle said in his letter.