Last Wednesday, October 3rd during chapel, SCCS’s Kids with Character program was implemented for the 2018-19 school year.
“Beginning in November during chapel, a student from each elementary class will be recognized by their teacher for modeling that month’s character trait,” shared Campus Pastor Wiley Kennedy. “For the month of October, teachers will be encouraging love; to seek the highest good of others.”
The Kids with Character program is an annual tradition at SCCS and encouraging kids to work on character traits in their young lives is one of our core values. Teachers have the opportunity to teach, encourage, and observe students in their class as they take the truth of God’s Word and tangibly practice what they learn. During chapel, two students in each class are awarded a certificate and a Kids with Character sticker, and they get to enjoy a pizza lunch as a group with Pastor Kennedy. Their photo will also be displayed in the corridor on our kids with character wall as you enter the library. “The kids really get excited about being honored in this way and look forward each month to see who will win the award,” shared Pastor Kennedy.
This year the character traits come from Galatians 5 where Paul speaks of the Fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Patience, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. “Each year the administration chooses character traits that are from God’s Word and that are easily understood and achievable to follow.” said Pastor Kennedy. “By pulling from the truths of the Bible, students are able to see how God’s commands play out in their day-to-day life.
And, by spending four weeks of school working on that trait, it helps teachers to work closely with students and encourage them to plant it deeply in their heart with the hope that it will take root. The idea of Kids with Character is to follow the Deuteronomy 6:7 model – ‘teach them diligently when you sit, when you walk, when you lie down, and when you rise up.’ The monthly kids with character award is meant to build up students and push them to work together to exhibit the qualities from the Bible and Christ.
Pastor Kennedy pointed out that while the awards are given out each month, it is really meant to have a lasting impact. “The awards are meant to encourage them in their own understanding that what they do really matters. The hope is that they are not merely “hearers” of the Word, but “doers of the Word.” It is our hope that as each student hides these truths away in their hearts that they will be examples of Christ at school, home and wherever they may be.
The following are the character traits that will be recognized each month during the 2018-19 school year:
- October: Love
- November: Joy
- December: Patience
- January: Kindness
- February: Faithfulness
- March: Gentleness
- April: Self-Control