Classroom approach to morning meetings and classroom language. Our bedrock core values in the Lower School are wisdom, community, respect and a shared commitment to one another. The Four Respects (respect for self, others, property and time) are our foundation. Learning about respect allows us to appreciate and cultivate each child’s uniqueness. Each child has a personal perspective (life experiences, family relationships, capabilities, individual temperament, etc.) that is recognized and valued. Becoming aware that we are all connected and impacted by each other’s choices is one of the first steps to building a community based upon mutual respect and care. We also emphasize the importance of kindness – what it means to be kind, what kindness feels like, what kindness looks like, and how random acts of kindness can be passed along to others. This year the Junior Kindergarten classes spent a great deal of time discussing ways in which we could show others what it means to be kind. We created cards for community helpers, we made kindness-grams for other students, and we made a ’Helping Hands’ quilt to show how our hands can be helpful to other people. As teachers, we strive to have a lasting effect on the children we work with by enhancing their independence through discovery and exploration, all while they feel cared for and respected. Posted on the walls of our classrooms, you will find our mission statement, the 4 Respects and classroom pledges that were created by the children. Each of these serves as a daily reminder of our commitment to provide a supportive environment where the children have a sense of trust, a positive self-concept, and can develop life skills that will enable them to be constructive contributors to the lives of others. How do we gauge the effectiveness of our character and ethics instruction? We listen to the interactions and voices of our students, when they say: “You don’t need to agree with me but I want to know that you hear me.” “You are my friend even when you aren’t perfect. I like you just the way you are.” “My high for the day wasn’t mine. It was when my friend learned how to do the monkey bars. She was so proud of herself and my heart felt happy.” “My high for the day wasn’t mine. It was when my friend learned how to do the monkey bars. She was so proud of herself and my heart felt happy.” GDS Magazine | 33