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Character Trait Education | Citizen of the Month

YCSD has outlined in its goals that “students will acquire knowledge, skills, and traits necessary for success in future educational experiences, the workforce, and life.” A part of this is learning about character traits that “improve the learning environment, promote student achievement, and develop civic-minded students of high character.”

The YCSD Character Education Traits include:

  • Trustworthiness: Being reliable, honest, earned over time; someone on whom others can depend.
  • Respect: Speaking and acting civilly, being courteous to others and caring about their rights, beliefs and well-being.
  • Responsibility: Showing reliability and consistency in speech and conduct; being accountable for one's own actions; civic engagement in the community.
  • Fairness: Acting in a just way in making decisions; standing up for the rights of everyone to be treated equally and honestly, playing by the rules.
  • Caring: Feeling and exhibiting concern and empathy for others.
  • Citizenship: Caring about the good of the school, community, and society and participating to make things better.

At Yorktown Elementary School, each month we focus on learning about and discussing a specific character trait. Throughout the month, students are encouraged to demonstrate this trait in their daily actions both inside and outside the classroom.

At the end of each month, teachers select two students who best exemplified the chosen character trait. These students are recognized as our Citizens of the Month, and parents will receive a letter sent home celebrating their child’s achievement.

In addition to this recognition, Citizens of the Month students are invited to join the School Counselors for a special “Fancy Lunch” on the cafeteria stage. During this celebration, students will enjoy eating lunch together, playing games, and having fun with their peers. Their photos will also be featured on the TVs throughout the hallways so the entire school community can celebrate the character trait they demonstrated that month.