| CHARACTER EDUCATION |
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Bridgeport Elementary is proud to announce that we have received the award of 2015 New York State School of Character and the 2015 National School of Character. These awards serve as a testament to the commitment of faculty, parents, students and community members to the success of all students at Bridgeport Elementary School.
In our school of character, adults embrace their critical role as models. Teachers work together as professionals—and with parents and community members as partners—to positively shape the social, emotional, and character development of our students.
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Our mission is to help students understand what our pillar words stand for, act on them, and as a result, feel good about themselves and the way they treat others. This has been the foundation of our school since its conception in 1952. "We Know, We Do, We Feel," our school model is part of each and every student, staff member, and parent who are part of our caring school community. |
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| All of the staff at Bridgeport Elementary strive each day to teach our students the academic curriculum that is so important for their growth and development. We also strive to instill in each student the importance of our core values, which we refer to as our pillar words. Embedded in our curriculum are these pillar words: Respect, Responsibility, Courage, Kindness and Perseverance. These pillar words help to further build the foundation that is being nurtured at home. As a community, Bridgeport Elementary works together to create an atmosphere where everyone is encouraged and expected to hold strong to our 5 pillar words. Pillar words are introduced and modeled at character education assemblies and practiced daily in the classrooms and throughout our school. |
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Bucket Filling
The students at Bridgeport Elementary have been working hard to become Bucket Fillers. A Bucket Filler is someone who says or does nice things for others. A simple smile or “Good Morning” can fill someone’s bucket. We all have an invisible bucket inside of us, and when it is full, we are very happy. The students know that we do not want to become Bucket Dippers. A Bucket Dipper is someone who says or does mean things to somebody else. We use the story "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" by Carol McCloud to teach the bucket filling philosphy.
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Light House Meetings
These are special meetings for our K-2 students in which we focus on our current pillar word. We usually read a story to our students, which is followed by a discussion of how the story relates to their lives. We also recognize student examples of great bucket filling.
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Courageous Conversations
This is a favorite time for our 3-4 Grade students. During these meetings our students participate in mixed grade level groups where they read and discuss a short story in small groups led by an adult facilitator. These stories also focus on our current pillar word. Lessons from the stories are then shared with the large group.
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Throughout the year students are acknowledged for outstanding leadership on the bus (Bus Leaders), in our cafeteria (“Roll” Models) and in classrooms (Bucket Fillers/Principal’s Chair Challenge). |
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| NYS STATE SCHOOL OF CHARACTER VIDEO |
