LAWRENCE: Schools recognized at state level

The Lawrence Township Public School District’s motto of “Lead, Achieve, Succeed” was affirmed this week when the school district was named a New Jersey District of Character at a statewide conference

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
    The Lawrence Township Public School District’s motto of “Lead, Achieve, Succeed” was affirmed this week when the school district was named a New Jersey District of Character at a statewide conference at Rider University.
    Lawrence High School also was honored at the conference, which was sponsored by the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional and Character Development. It is the last of the district’s seven schools to be named a New Jersey School of Character.
    Superintendent of Schools Crystal Edwards said she was pleased and excited that Lawrence High School and the Lawrence Township Public School District had earned such honors.
    “To me, it was only a matter of time before the district was recogized for the things we were doing,” Ms. Edwards said. “I’m very proud about that. It’s the kind of thing that won’t show up on the (New Jersey Department of Education) annual state report card (on school districts).”
    The public school district and the high school earned honors for their focus on character education programs. All of the schools use the Character Education Partnership’s “11 Principles of Effective Character Education,” adapting them to suit each school’s personality.
    The 11 principles range from “promoting core ethical values” — which Lawrence High School does through its emphasis on scholarship and responsibility — to “providing students with opportunities for moral action,” which is achieved through numerous clubs such as Operation Smile, which focuses on reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities.
    Another principle — “fostering students’ self-motivation” — is accomplished by the weekly Cardinal Pride Card Program, which recognizes students who have behaved in a particularly ethical manner. Students are also recognized for improvements in academics or behavior at a monthly breakfast.
    At the school district level, the same 11 principles also are implemented. The principle of “creat(ing) a caring community” is carried out at each of the seven schools. At Lawrence Intermediate School, faculty members volunteer to mentor at-risk students, for example.
    And the principle that “the school engages families and community members as partners in the character- building effort” is demonstrated through character-related events such as walk-a- thons, Project Graduation (a post-high school graduation night celebration chaperoned by parents) and charity events. All of the schools work with senior citizens through the Lawrence Senior Center.
  “We teach (character education) and we model it,” Ms. Edwards said. “Look at the programs. The teachers are involved. They get the students excited about helping others. The student athletes work with Special Olympics New Jersey.”
    “The teachers model acceptance and tolerance. The parents help out. From a child’s perspective, if the significant people in their lives are doing this, it is good. The children are also role models for adults. I learn a lot from the children,” Ms. Edwards said.