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What is CHARACTERplus?
CHARACTERplus, an exciting community-wide initiative, is a partnership among the faith and business communities, the families, and the schools in Jersey County to foster a community where character is highly valued and intentionally taught.
How?
In order for this initiative to have the greatest impact, a focus on promoting character in the areas of school, community, and home will be the three target areas for character development.
Goals
The goals for the Jersey County character education initiative are as follows:
- Improve school climate to positively impact achievement, attendance, discipline, and drop out rate.
- Cultivate visible community support.
- Increase parent participation and awareness in character development.
History
In March, 2003, Sanford McDonnell was invited to speak at the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Jerseyville Rotary Club. His 20 minute talk on the importance and need for character education inspired business leaders and educational personnel to meet together to research and discuss possibilities for a character education initiative in Jersey County. After several months of research and study, the group decided to affiliate with
CHARACTERplus, an arm of
Cooperating School Districts of
Greater St. Louis.
Financial Support
The membership fee for CHARACTERplus for 2003-2004 was paid by a community wellness grant through the
Jersey County Health Department. Since then the membership fee
has been paid by donations from various community organizations including
District 100 Foundation, school PTO’s, and others.
Program
CHARACTERplus provides the support and resources needed to tailor make a program that successfully trains up the young people of Jersey County to be people of good character: respectful, responsible, self-controlled, kind, patient, honest, trustworthy, polite, reliable, generous, fair, and cooperative. These characteristics are nurtured by focusing on one each month in as many ways as can be conceived of by a school, a business, a church, or a family. It is believed that variety, repetition, and enthusiasm by the community as a whole will more fully impact the young people.
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