Students at Constable learn that character counts

By Davy James, Staff Writer
   Constable Elementary School was bustling with activity Friday with lines of children participating in a walk-a-thon and others, with patches of dirt on their faces, planting tulips.
   The activities culminated Red Ribbon/Violence Prevention Week, which is designed to bolster varying character traits among students.
   ”We had a week of activities on cooperation and diversity tied together with making healthy choices,” said Christine Doles, student assistance counselor. “We want to instill qualities like kindness, cooperation, responsibility, empathy and self-control. Things South Brunswick focuses on as a district.”
   Teachers were instructed on how to teach the students different ways to show the character traits through games and activities to build cooperation.
   The week’s activities included Teamwork Day, which had students wearing their favorite team’s logo, Turn Your Back on Bullies Day, which had students wearing their clothing backward, and Living Healthy Is No Sweat Day, which had students dressing in sweats.
   The tulip planting on Friday was a great way for the students to kick off the year, according to Ms. Doles.
   ”This is a way to give the students a sense of community,” she said. “When the flowers come up in the spring it’s going to be a reminder of what we did here today. Until then we focus on the different character traits and how to live it every day.”
   First-grade students Antwon Hodges-Jackson and Katya Novitsky especially enjoyed their time gardening.
   ”I liked planting the tulips a lot,” Antwon said. “It’s fun to get dirty.”
   Second-graders Jason Santiago, Jordan Lumpkin and Justin Rock enjoyed the walk-a-thon, especially walking past the Halloween decorations throughout the neighborhood.
   ”I liked when we saw spooky stuff on the walk,” Jordan said. “It scared me a lot and made me surprised.”
   Ms. Doles said the students take away important values they can carry with them throughout their lives.
   ”This teaches them to work together and become a community,” Ms. Doles said. “It helps the students become the best they can be.”