2002 Bonner Center Elementary Schools
Alta Vista Elementary School (520 Students, K-8)
Porterville, CA 93257
559-782-5700
Principal: Mr. Paul Cannon
Any visitor to Alta Vista School will see that our CHARACTER COUNTS! Program is intentional and proactive in making character education a school-wide phenomenon for all students in all grade levels as demonstrated by the following examples:
- Weekly CHARACTER COUNTS! Classroom meetings, lessons and internalization of CHARACTER COUNTS! traits into “main idea” of listening and reading comprehension activities
- Students’ Declaration of Character Development at the start of each school day
- Students lagging in character development are coupled with adult mentors (role models)
- After school program expanded to include CHARACTER COUNTS! Activities
- Ten hours of community service required to graduate from 8th grade
- CHARACTER COUNTS! Recognition to students at assemblies, in classrooms and in newspapers
- “Caught with Character” assemblies for students demonstrating CHARACTER COUNTS! traits
- Campus murals, electronic message board in the cafeteria, banners in all classrooms
- Peace Path (conflict resolution) painted on outside pavement at three locations on campus
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Burton Elementary School (600 Students, K-5)
Porterville, CA 93257
559-784-2401
Principal: Ms. Michelle Pengilly
CHARACTER COUNTS! runs deep at Burton elementary. Students know that the community service projects are correlated to good character and represent one of the pillars. Many classrooms taketurns adopting different areas of the campus to keep clean and neat! Rewards aren't necessary when it comes to the beautification of our campus! Students respect the grounds they play on and take care of the grounds to keep them clean and safe for all. Students have also supported a recycling program to earn new lunch tables for the outside area! Every Tuesday students bring recyclables from home with the help of their parents and help earn money towards the purchases of new equipment to build a better campus. So far the students have raised over $1,500.00!
For three years, Burton has participated in several community projects that promoted good character and made all who participated proud of the end results. One major project collected pennies from home to donate to children with leukemia. Another project, Caps for Kids!, was a project where students decorated new and old hats that were then sent to Valley children's Hospital for children undergoing chemotherapy.
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Clovis Elementary School (599 Students, K-6)
Clovis, CA 93711
559-327-6100
Principal: Mr. Robert Hansen
Each classroom participates in the “Pass the Pillar” program. The teacher starts the program by catching a student in an act of good character and presenting the student with a miniature pillar to place on their desk. That student must then pass the pillar on to another student caught doing good deeds. Students learn to recognize and value ethical behavior.
The most important component of our character education program is our year-round commitment to community service. The spirit of giving starts with our generous staff. From our assistant principal measuring a child’s foot with a ruler and then going out to buy tennis shoes that fit, to our school nurse who buys groceries with her own money so some of our hungry kids can have an extra snack, acts of generosity occur every day.
Some of the many projects undertaken by our classrooms include: Coats for Kids; Toys for Tots; Kitten Sponsorship and cat food donations to the California Feline Foundation; donations to the American Red Cross; necessity bundles for the Poverello House; singing at local convalescent homes.
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Crowley Elementary School (680 Students, K-6)
Visalia, CA 93291
559-730-7758
Principal: Tammy Gonzalez
Crowley Elementary School has committed funds for the continuation of character education as well as building and expanding the program with the enthusiastic support of staff, students and parents. Bulletin boards in the cafeteria, posters and essays in the classroom and the marquee in front of the school set the tone and broadcast the theme that is the foundation of spirit of the school. Discipline measures also reflect that these traits are valued and provide the cornerstone of high expectations that administrators and staff support in the classroom, cafeteria and on the playground. During school detention students are assigned various writing assignments based on descriptions of the pillars, what they mean to the climate of our school, and how those traits are observable in various settings at our school.
The students at Crowley School are active participants in the beautification of the campus. Staff members and students have worked side-by-side cleaning flowerbeds, removing old growth and planting flowerbeds that line the walkway entrance. Students voluntarily pick up trash during their recesses and encourage each other to keep the site free of unsightly refuse. Since the character education program has become part of the campus philosophy, students have taken more pride in their school and there has been a marked decrease in graffiti and littering.
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Fort Washington Elementary School (725 Students, K-6)
Clovis, CA 93720
559-327-6600
Principal: Ms. Debra Parra
Over the years, our GOOD DEED Tickets have reinforced the value of random acts of kindness. Children “caught being good” enter their GOOD DEED Tickets into a weekly raffle. Six children are randomly selected from the raffle bins and recognized over our Friday video announcements. In addition, our CHARACTER COUNTS! coordinator brings her bag of goodies to the playground and distributes pencils, stickers, or erasers to students who correctly answer her “character quiz” questions.
A Peer Mediation program has been initiated. One classroom teacher and our school psychologist teamed to provide 12 weeks of peer mediation training to a select group of 29 students in grades 3-5. These Fort Friends help new students make adjustments, befriend isolated students, and help resolve minor conflicts on the yard.
Our entire school community offered heartfelt assistance to the bereft survivors of the tragedies in New York and Washington, DC. Fort Washington: adopted the 144th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard; donated nickels for New York and Coins of Caring; sent a donation in response to President Bush’s plea to aid the children of Afghanistan; wrote letters of gratitude to New York firefighters; and much more.
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Fremont Elementary School (399 Students, 3rd - 5th)
Fowler, CA 93625
559-834-1691
Principal: Mr. Glen Billington
Beth Feaver, our mentor teacher for Character Education, has collected character lessons done by teachers in our district (K-5) that are tied into the California State Content Standards. These lessons were compiled and disseminated to all district teachers in a binder.
Our 5th grade held a mock election. This gave our students the opportunity to actually go through the registering and voting process. The best part of this election was that the students conducted every step of the election including registering voters, giving speeches as candidates, setting up polling places, working the election booths and counting votes. This provided our students the opportunity to see how the process works.
This resulted in several service learning projects last year, such as one classroom's participation in the Shoe Box project; a 3rd grade classroom which brought items to put in backpacks to be sent to a child through Kid Care international; a group of 5th grade girls who formed a Service Club to help in the community; and a project to make a Veterans Quilt to honor the veterans in our school community.
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Golden Valley Elementary School (495 Students, K-6)
Orosi, CA 93647
559-528-9004
Principal: Robert Chavez
Golden Valley has purchased sets of literature with the Six pillars of Character themes. These books have been placed in the library and are available for classroom checkout.
Students of the Month are selected every month to be honored and recognized. Teachers choose students based on the demonstration of one of the Six pillars of Character. Their pictures are then displayed in the school cafeteria and they are rewarded with lunch sponsored by our local McDonald's Restaurant. The Dinuba Sentinel newspaper also prints their names and photos.
Golden Valley’s signature character recognition award is the Golden Valley Lions medallion which is given to students who meet the requirements of exemplary character, academic and civic achievement as stated in the Golden Valley Elementary School agenda.
Golden Valley has a very active leadership Team which began the year with over 40 volunteer members. The leadership Team is responsible for creating, planning and implementing school-wide activities including movie night; planning activity days and classroom caroling during holiday season; collecting cans of food for the needy during Thanksgiving; making Gingerbread puppets for preschool students; and, writing “letters of kindness’ to teachers, family, friends and community members they felt had made a significant impact on their lives.
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Jefferson Elementary School (455 Students, K-6)
Sanger, CA 93657
559-875-7851
Principal: Mr. Matt Navo
Jefferson Elementary became a ‘Community of Caring’ school during the 1996-97 school year. At our Monday morning flag salute students are reminded of the value we are focusing on and informed of any upcoming Community of Caring activities. Trimester awards assemblies are a time where reading and math awards are given, and Community of Caring awards recognizing outstanding character are also awarded.
The staff of Jefferson Elementary utilizes various activities to promote positive social development, group cohesion and caring and respect for others. This year, our principal implemented the “Golden Broom”, where classrooms take turns being responsible for ensuring that our campus is kept clean. Students take an active role in this and take their responsibility quite seriously. Our reading buddies program pairs younger students with older peers. For the past several years our students have sold the Kid's Day Edition of the Fresno Bee to raise money for Valley Children's hospital. Our first grade students made Christmas cards for our local convalescent hospital and visited the hospital and sang Christmas carols for the residents. The student leadership committee sponsored a Random Act of Kindness for the Jefferson staff. We provide a sit down breakfast for the staff as a thank you for all they do for the students and families of Jefferson. Students assisted in preparing and serving the breakfast.
Malaga Elementary School (201 Students, K-5)
Fowler, CA 93625
559-834-2591
Principal: Ms. Arpi Keledjian
All grade levels at Malaga School participate in the Character Education program. As a part of the science and math study in the upper grades, character education comes into play with drug prevention education reinforced by an officer from the Fresno County Sheriff's Department. And as an example of cross curriculum values instruction, Malaga teachers have widened the pillar of Respect to include respect for the environment and conservation. The Second Step program designed to teach violence prevention, develop empathy for others, cooperation, anger management and problem-solving skills is also in place. Pam Tesmer, a Malaga teacher, developed a responsibility program specifically designed for students in the middle grades as they become more loaded down with homework and need to work independently in class.
Students in grads K-3 are screened for inclusion in the primary intervention Program. That program assists children who have school adjustment difficulties through one-on-one interactive play with a trained practitioner. Upper grade teachers have infused character education in the physical education program as they have taught teams to cooperate toward a goal, how to disagree appropriately and how to be a good sport. The principal has provided teachers with “Teaching Tolerance”, a magazine that focuses on diversity and provides examples of fairness, equity and caring and respect for others.
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Marshall Elementary School (350 Students, K-2)
Fowler, CA 93625
559-834-2915
Principal: Mr. Jim Flake
A Safety patrol was implemented to assist with monitoring the corridors. Second graders are selected to monitor appropriate conduct in the halls. Students are selected for safety patrol based on their good behavior, completion of assignments, and school attendance.
Core values are taught in monthly themes. Teachers weave these values into existing lessons as appropriate. The intention of creating character education was to integrate these positive concepts into the already existing curriculum rather than to add additional lessons to the day.
At the end of the quarter an Awards Assembly is held. Parents are notified of this honor in a written letter from the principal. During the awards assembly, the child’s teacher presents the certificate to the child while the principal reads a rationale written by the teacher describing why this child was deserving of this honor.
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Nelson Elementary School (607 Students, K-6)
Clovis, CA 93650
559-327-7600
Principal: Ms. Isabel Facio
Developmentally, Nelson students are taught character virtues at their level. Character curriculum taught at each grade level is targeted to the students’ level. As student moves through the grade levels, the curriculum builds upon past knowledge and lessons. In a sense, all that is learned about good character traits is culminated at our sixth grade camp trip to the Regional Learning Center in Sonora. Our final activity in Sonora is a “Ropes” course in which sixth grade students must be able to “work as a team” and be able to “trust” their fellow classmates. These relationships built through trust, caring, respect, and fairness will last a lifetime.
Each morning during the daily school-wide announcements, administrators and students cite examples of good character and state the character of the month. Within the classroom, students benefit from cooperative grouping and study literature related to character building. Students study heroes, community leaders, and famous people in history and discuss and inspire admiration for their character traits. We annually host a Multi-cultural Festival for the students and community guests.
The Exemplary Roadrunner Award (Block “N”) is the highest award a student may earn at nelson Elementary. The criteria for this award reflect well-rounded participation and service as well as achievement. This award brings together the expectation at Nelson for students to develop in mind, body and spirit.
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Pixley Union Elementary School (860 Students, K-8)
Pixley, CA 93256
559-757-3131
Principal: Mr. Ted Thomas
The mission of Pixley School is to foster academic excellence, self-esteem and responsibility by maintaining an exciting, safe, supportive and challenging environment in which staff and students can work and learn.
A group of 5th and 6th grade students designed and painted a CHARACTER COUNTS! mural at the end of a classroom building which faces the playground.
The Pixley Student Council distributes monthly posters to every classroom at the beginning of the month. Students spend time defining the behaviors of the selected pillar and classes give examples of defined behavior they could practice.
Our Student of the month program distributes a Tulare County CHARACTER COUNTS! T-shirt to one student in every classroom every month of the school year.
A prevention specialist instructs an anti-bullying curriculum to 1st - 3rd grade students.
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Acts of Kindness were practiced school-wide during the month of January and submitted to the Pixley Student Council.
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Vandalia Elementary School (754 Students, K-6)
Porterville, Ca. 93257
559-782-7260
Principal: Mr. Angel Valdez
The students and staff wear their Vandalia Viking shirts on Friday. CHARACTER COUNTS! day is every Monday and staff and students wear the shirts they have earned. Our student Council has a store that raises money to pay for murals to be painted on the school walls.
Collaborative groups are seen working together in all our grade levels. A third grade group may be working with pattern blocks to determine the perimeter of a shape; a first grade group working on patters with color tiles; a fourth grade group working on missions or California reports. In science, fourth grade through sixth grade student groups can be seen working on science fair projects. Student Council members are elected twice a year. These student government representatives work together to provide fun and character and pride building activities for our campus. They sponsor dress-up days, Red Ribbon Week activities, assemblies, food donations, a school store and assistance in the school office.
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