February is African American History Month

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society. As a Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson, like W. E. B. Du Bois before him, believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail over prejudice. His hopes to raise awareness of African American's contributions to civilization was realized when he and the organization he founded, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), conceived and announced Negro History Week in 1925. The event was first celebrated during a week in February 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The response was overwhelming: Black history clubs sprang up; teachers demanded materials to instruct their pupils; and progressive whites, not simply white scholars and philanthropists, stepped forward to endorse the effort. By the time of Woodson's death in 1950, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life and substantial progress had been made in bringing more Americans to appreciate the celebration. At mid–century, mayors of cities nationwide issued proclamations noting Negro History Week. The Black Awakening of the 1960s dramatically expanded the consciousness of African Americans about the importance of black history, and the Civil Rights movement focused Americans of all color on the subject of the contributions of African Americans to our history and culture. The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation's bicentennial. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” That year, fifty years after the first celebration, the association held the first African American History Month. By this time, the entire nation had come to recognize the importance of Black history in the drama of the American story. Since then each American president has issued African American History Month proclamations. And the association—now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)—continues to promote the study of Black history all year. (Excerpt from an essay by Daryl Michael Scott, Howard University, for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History)

For Teachers: http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/teachers.html

February 2016 Newsletter

“Character

Education is not a

program — it’s a

way of life.”

Volume 10, Issue 2

Inside this issue:

February is African American History Month

1

Best Practices for the Month of February— Imagine Foundations at Morningside Public Charter School

2

School Activities: Route Forty Elementary School

3

MCCE@SU 2016 Awards Program & Application

4

HAPPY

VALTINTINE’S

DAY!

Honoring our Award Winners from the 2014– 2015 School Year Best Practices for the Month of February

Imagine Foundations at Morningside Public Charter School,

Prince George’s County

Primary Principles Emphasized: 1, 3, and 4

Objective(s): “Character Confetti Ambush”

Students will celebrate the character accomplishments of their classmates by participating in monthly character confetti am-bushes in order to recognize the importance of positive character.

Objective(s): “SOARing into School Student Conference”

Students will learn about our school’s character and behavioral expectations in a unified and innovative to commence the new school year.

Objective(s): “Peace Labyrinth”

Students will reflect on the character trait of peace and collaborate to create a school labyrinth for our community to foster

peaceful meditation.

Imagine Foundations at

Morningside Public

Charter School

Principal: Dr. Peter

Thompson

Page 2

Click on the following link to review this "Best Practice"

http://www.mdctrcharacter.org/best%20practices.shtml

Title of Best Practice:

“Character Confetti Ambush “

“SOARing into School Student Conference “

“Peace Labyrinth “

Imagine Foundations at Morningside Public Charter School

Classroom Confetti Ambush

Celebration SOARing Conference

Breakout Session

Labyrinth’s Peace Rocks

Page 3

Volume 10, Issue 2

School Activities:

Route Forty Elementary School, Garrett County

Ice bucket Challenge - Staff members at Route Forty Elementary in Garrett County accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge to help bring awareness to ALS. The roses represent a teacher that Route Forty Elementary lost to this illness. After each staff member completed the challenge the roses

were presented to the gentleman watching in honor of his wife.

Ice Bucket

Challenge

Other activities at Route Forty Elementary include:

Obstacle Course PK sorting vegetables Students at leadership

conference

Check this out: : Last year Route Forty Elementary was selected as one of the elementary schools to pilot and be part of the research base for the Committee for Children’s Bully Prevention Unit, a new component of the Second Step social-emotional learning program. Route Forty Elementary

School’s 5th Grade produced a YouTube Bullying Video.

https://youtu.be/v84kO5BfZZA

The Maryland Center for Character Education at Stevenson University (MCCE@SU) is

planning the 2016 Awards Conference to honor schools throughout MD who have

instituted, developed, and are continuing comprehensive character education initiatives in

their school communities. It is a goal of MCCE@SU to promote Character Education

throughout the state of Maryland. This year we are encouraging every school throughout

the state that has developed a comprehensive character education program to apply for

this prestigious award. We are hoping that you will help us achieve this goal by

encouraging all schools that have a character education program in your school system to

apply for recognition of MCCE@SU Best Practices School of the Year award.

There is no limit as to how many times you can apply for our award. If you have any

questions just let me know. You can contact me by e-mail at MCCEcharacter@aol.com or

at 352-728-8771. I look forward to hearing from everyone.

MCCE@SU’s 2015—2016 School of the Year Award application can be found on our

website, along with the Quality Standards and 11 Principles of Effective Character Educa-

tion. Visit our website at www.mdctrcharacter.org where you will find the documents

you need under the menu on the left..

I look forward to receiving your applications!

Linda Muska, MCCE@SU, Executive Coordinator MCCEcharacter@aol.com 352-728-8771

MCCE@SU 2016 Award’s Program