Character Education at Waimea Country School

Pono

Pono is our school-wide theme and infuses all we do.

Moral character shapes the course of a student’s life more than any academic skill. Our values-based curriculum is woven into the culture of our school and complements our academic curriculum to create a balanced environment where children grow socially and emotionally, as well as intellectually.

We highlight specific monthly values over a two-year cycle. Discussion, sharing stories from other cultures, highlighting individuals of strong moral character, and various practical applications, such as community service projects, are some of the initiatives that define our program.

All students participate in daily lessons in social-emotional learning, including gratitude, mindfulness, making and keeping friends, coping with big emotions, building trust, and so on. We practice, model, encourage, and expect common courtesy and good manners.

In addition, monthly values inform weekly ‘Ohana Meetings that each class takes turns leading. This is a venue for sharing insights about the month’s value in a class presentation format — reader’s theater, songs, videos, artwork, skits, and so on. Thus the monthly values move beyond  a poster on the wall to a meaningful, integrated affirmation infused into daily life at the school.

In the first year, students study:

In the second year, students expand their character development by learning about:

Parental input is key. The long term success of our Character Education Program depends on the School and the family working together to meet the needs of our children.

Families are welcome and encouraged to use the language of pono and our monthly values outside of school to reinforce the life skills and concepts taught at school.

 

 

 

 

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