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Santa Rita has made a commitment to help students develop life skills by
focusing on one character trait each month, as inspired by the book and website Character Counts.
This character trait is incorporated
not only into serious discussions in the classroom, but also into many other
student activities. We would like to share the highlighted trait each month with
you and offer ideas on how to bring these important life skills into your daily
conversations and activities at home.
Happy New Year! It is a great time to focus on those lifelong skills that will carry kids beyond their academic training. Consider taking a little time each week this month to talk about or do an activity related to “Fairness” with your children
 Play by the rules
Take turns and share
Be open minded; listen to others
Don’t blame others carelessly
Don’t take advantage of others |
Suggestions
for parents:
Motivate and challenge your children to be fair with each other. Tell them that you have a challenge for them and it contains four words that rhyme: “I dare you to share and to care and be fair.” Suggest that this challenge is harder (and wiser) than any of the “dares” their friends might give them. Talk about what each word means.
Check out one book related to the theme of fairness. Book lists are provided by Mrs. Granoff of the Santa Rita Library and the children’s library staff at the Los Altos Library.
Have your child write the name of a classmate:
| ______________can be fair. |
______________can share with others. |
| ______________is a good listener. |
_____________asks when he/she doesn’t know a rule |
| ______________follows the rules. |
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Deposit this listing in the CHARACTER COUNTS! box located in the Santa Rita Office. Mr. Peck will regularly pick responses and share them with the students.
Post the above definition of “Fairness” in a visible location in your home.
Watch any of the follow movies that have themes of fairness: “Karate Kid,” “National Velvet” “Iron Will.” Discuss afterwards how the main characters did or did not exemplify the character trait of “Fairness”. Use the definitions above to help in the discussion.
Consider becoming a
“Character Coach” to help plan and organize Character Counts! activities and
develop this worthwhile life skills program at Santa Rita. Contact Debbie
Munro at debbieatwhitespaceink.com 941-9541 or Shauna Nash sjhnashatcomcast.net
948-8845.
This is only one of the six pillars of character.
View our other character pages.
Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.
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