CharacterStrong
Why Character Strong?
ASD Adopts Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Character Development Curriculum
During the summer of 2021, community members, educators, administrators, and students in our district worked to develop our current Strategic Plan. This process led to a critical product, which supports the district in our vision — “Portrait of an Armstrong Graduate.”
Within the plan, four primary goals were established. The second of the four goals is centered on healthy, safe, and supported students and was a result of multiple forms of data, including attendance, achievement, behavioral, and parent/student perceptual survey data.
View all our goals and the entire ASD Strategic Plan 2022-2027 here.
It was clear to the stakeholder group that there were areas of improvement needed to enhance an environment of respect and rapport where all students belong and can engage in a positive learning and school experience.
CharacterStrong was selected to be a resource to support the stated goal. CharacterStrong integrates social, emotional, and behavioral supports with academics. ASD shares their belief that every student should have access to a safe, predictable, and inclusive learning environment. Through ChraractarStrong, we strive for healthy, supportive relationships with educators and peers and opportunities to learn skills that enable our students to meet the demands of school and life.
CharacterStrong is a resource in partnership with families to help support a positive culture and climate that enables students to feel safe and supported and engage in learning. It is centered on the areas of “Be Kind, Be Strong, Be Well.”
ASD’s CharacterStrong Outline Summary
- Attributes such as respect, responsibility, gratitude, empathy, perseverance, honesty, cooperation, courage, and creativity make up the 36 grade K-5 lessons.
- Grades 6-12 have 25 to 30 sessions on belonging, well-being, engagement, and leadership.
The lessons are viewable in their entirety at the following link:
https://www.characterstrong.com/family-welcome-link/.
Data will be gathered annually to determine overall school improvement using measures that have been used annually over the years: attendance data, aggregate behavior data (office referrals), and PA Climate Survey Data, administered twice per year.