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District Celebrates Character Accomplishments
July 16, 2015
Lindbergh Schools, a National District of Character, celebrated several character education accomplishments during the 2014-15 school year.
District Earns Five Promising Practices
Five Lindbergh Schools programs have earned the Promising Practice award from character.org.
“It is outstanding that Lindbergh initiatives have once again been selected to serve as models nationally for other schools,” said Amy Richards, character education coordinator for the district.
Lindbergh staff were well represented at the CharacterPlus National Character Education Conference June 16-17, at St. Charles Convention Center. Truman Assistant Principal Dr. Mike Straatmann and Lindbergh parent Julie Smith shared “How we Tackled Digital Citizenship in a St. Louis Middle School,” while Character Education Coordinator Amy Richards and Lindbergh High School teacher Mary Grobe presented “Empowering Students to Create Positive Change” and “Character Goes Viral: High Schools use Social Media to Counter Cyberbullying,” along with LHS student Katie Spradling.
Student presenters also included Samantha Torti and Madison Kopp, who shared “Students as Allies: Middle School Students Fight Bullying.”
Middle School Students Prove They ‘Are the Change’
Students in Flight Crew, a character education course at Sperreng and Truman middle schools, researched, planned, and executed a month for celebration of “We are the Change,” emphasizing the schools’ year-long focus of #startswithus. The #startswithus hashtag was inspired by the Lindbergh High School Character Leadership Team, in addition to middle school training at the CharacterPlus bully prevention forum and Megan Meier Leadership conference.
“We are the Change” week May 11-14 included themes such as: “It’s what’s inside that counts,” “Mirrorless Monday” (students covered mirrors with positive quotes about inner strength and beauty), “Tuesday Bright Out Bullying” (Hawaiian), and “Black out Bullying.”
Concord, Long Fifth-Graders Celebrate Leadership
As fifth-graders at Concord and Long elementary schools prepared to fly up to middle school, they reflected on and celebrated the power of leadership.
At Long, fifth-grade girls were inspired with a confidence-building session presented by Julie Walther-Scheibel from Girls in the Know, and fifth-grade boys learned the importance of friendship and trust during a presentation by Lindbergh High School Coach Tom Beauchamp and student athlete leaders (and Long alumni) Steve Sporjoric, Doug Tate, Brooks Hall, Jhavon Graves, Tommy Floyd, Blake Reed, Tyler West and William Williams.
Middle School Students Share Leadership Skills
May in Lindbergh Schools is a time for reflections, celebrations, and transitions to the next level of education. In the midst of all these activities a group of students from Sperreng and Truman middle schools practiced their leadership skills by presenting to their younger peers at Lindbergh’s five elementary schools, in an effort to create and celebrate positive culture and climate.
Lindbergh Schools, a National District of Character, celebrated several character education accomplishments during the 2014-15 school year.
District Earns Five Promising Practices
Five Lindbergh Schools programs have earned the Promising Practice award from character.org.
“It is outstanding that Lindbergh initiatives have once again been selected to serve as models nationally for other schools,” said Amy Richards, character education coordinator for the district.
- Lindbergh Schools – “Lindbergh Community Serving Together: Feed the Knowledge,” author Amy Richards, in collaboration with Debra Schiavo, Dr. Jim Simpson and the Crestwood-Sunset Hills Rotary Club
- Lindbergh High School – “Project Heart,” author Kim Dailey, in collaboration with Cindy Malin, Terry Linkemer, Tom Girard, Andrew Mertens and Ben McNeely
- Lindbergh High School – “LHS Ambassadors,” author Joan Hereford
- Sperreng Middle School – “Character Comic Con,” author Amy Sears
- Sappington Elementary School – “Bucket of Wishes,” author Katherine Crawford
Lindbergh staff were well represented at the CharacterPlus National Character Education Conference June 16-17, at St. Charles Convention Center. Truman Assistant Principal Dr. Mike Straatmann and Lindbergh parent Julie Smith shared “How we Tackled Digital Citizenship in a St. Louis Middle School,” while Character Education Coordinator Amy Richards and Lindbergh High School teacher Mary Grobe presented “Empowering Students to Create Positive Change” and “Character Goes Viral: High Schools use Social Media to Counter Cyberbullying,” along with LHS student Katie Spradling.
Student presenters also included Samantha Torti and Madison Kopp, who shared “Students as Allies: Middle School Students Fight Bullying.”
Staff members attending the conference included Long Elementary School Assistant Principal Patrick Schoenekase, LHS teacher Daniel Murphy, Sappington Elementary School counselors Carolyn Hubert and Stacey Toomay, and LHS Athletic Director Scott Luczak.
Middle School Students Prove They ‘Are the Change’
Students in Flight Crew, a character education course at Sperreng and Truman middle schools, researched, planned, and executed a month for celebration of “We are the Change,” emphasizing the schools’ year-long focus of #startswithus. The #startswithus hashtag was inspired by the Lindbergh High School Character Leadership Team, in addition to middle school training at the CharacterPlus bully prevention forum and Megan Meier Leadership conference.
“We are the Change” week May 11-14 included themes such as: “It’s what’s inside that counts,” “Mirrorless Monday” (students covered mirrors with positive quotes about inner strength and beauty), “Tuesday Bright Out Bullying” (Hawaiian), and “Black out Bullying.”
Students also planned and presented assemblies for sixth- and seventh-graders, including trivia, interactive games, and even a wacky rule staff vs. students basketball game at Truman with a halftime lipsync dance celebration.
Concord, Long Fifth-Graders Celebrate Leadership
As fifth-graders at Concord and Long elementary schools prepared to fly up to middle school, they reflected on and celebrated the power of leadership.
At Long, fifth-grade girls were inspired with a confidence-building session presented by Julie Walther-Scheibel from Girls in the Know, and fifth-grade boys learned the importance of friendship and trust during a presentation by Lindbergh High School Coach Tom Beauchamp and student athlete leaders (and Long alumni) Steve Sporjoric, Doug Tate, Brooks Hall, Jhavon Graves, Tommy Floyd, Blake Reed, Tyler West and William Williams.
At Concord, fifth-grade girls were inspired with a confidence-building session presented by Lisa Deutsch from Girls in the Know, and and fifth-grade boys learned the importance of friendship and confidence during a presentation by Sperreng Middle School teachers Mark Giesing and Brett Scheidenhelm.
Middle School Students Share Leadership Skills
May in Lindbergh Schools is a time for reflections, celebrations, and transitions to the next level of education. In the midst of all these activities a group of students from Sperreng and Truman middle schools practiced their leadership skills by presenting to their younger peers at Lindbergh’s five elementary schools, in an effort to create and celebrate positive culture and climate.
Areas of focus included cyber safety, netiquette, empathy, friendship, bully prevention, confidence, and sportsmanship.