(CHRISTIAN, JEWISH or other faith)

The commitments of a school to be recognized as a "Christian School of Character" (or Jewish or other faith) by the Idaho Character Council fall under two categories:

• Personal Commitments - Commitments of leaders and staff to champion character-building in themselves, their students and their students' families.
• Objective Fulfillment-Commitments - Commitments designed to help carry out the objective of "Creating a Culture of Character" within the school.

Personal Commitments

1. Commitment from the school's leader (Headmaster, Principal, Other) to personally practice and develop the monthly character qualities and to champion them throughout the school by modeling, encouraging, and setting up an accountability system (e.g. a central committee, committees within the divisions) to make sure that implementation is occurring
2. Commitment from governing board and staff (teachers, administrative personnel, cafeteria personnel, bus drivers, etc.) to personally practice the monthly character qualities.
3. Commitment from staff to creatively bring character into the classroom and life of the school, creating a "Culture of Character".  (Staff will be encouraged to attend the free "Culture of Character" seminar offered periodically in the area.)
4. Commitment by the leader and staff to involve parents in the effort to encourage the practice and development of monthly character qualities.

Initial

1. Once the school has set forth the personal commitments, it will pass a resolution through its governing board to tangibly show these commitments.  (Sample resolutions are available from the Character Council, but should be tailored to mirror the specific commitment of the school.)
2. A plan to carry out these commitments will be distributed to staff in a faculty handbook or other item of similar prominence.
3. A committee or committees will be set up within the school to champion the school-wide character effort and report progress and ideas back to the school's leader (Headmaster, Principal, Other) and Character Council.
4. Parents will be informed through a newsletter of the commitments that have been made and invited to participate and work with staff.
5. Instruction will be provided for staff, parents and students answering the basic questions:  What is character?  Whatare the benefits based on the Christian Faith (or Jewish or other faith) for practicing good character?  Why as a Christian (or Jew or person of other faith) should I be motivated? Am I really able to change?  For this month's character quality, say, exactly what is the target I should be trying to change to?  How exactly do I go about changing and growing to achieve this target in my life?

1. Monthly staff meetings will include a discussion of the Character Quality of the Month.
   
   a. Definition and "I Wills"
   b. Applicability
   c. Brainstorming session on how to
       creatively     implement change with the quality.
   d. Benefits of developing the quality.
   e. Testimonies
   
2. At the beginning of each month a five minute^* introduction to the new Character Quality of the Month will be provided each student and staff (e.g. by intercom), including its definition and understanding of each "I Will", and motivations as a Christian (or Jew or other faith) for practicing monthly character qualities. (^*Up to two minutes for 3^rd grade and under.)
3. Each week (except as in ^#2) a five minute^* presentation will be provided each student and staff (e.g. by intercom), motivating or relating the Character Quality of the Month and character in general to Christianity (of Faith of the school).  (^*Up to two minutes for 3^rd grade and under.)
4. Each day (except as ^#2 and ^#3) a "Minute for Character" will be provided each student and staff (e.g. by intercom), encouraging the practice of the Character Quality of the Month through faith-based stories, illustrations, personal testimonies, recognitions, or other means.
5. Staff will make an effort to develop a habit of mentioning or providing activities related to the Character Quality daily or weekly.  (They should, through brainstorming, have many different ideas through which they can encourage good character in the classroom.)
6. A system will be established for publicly recognizing and passing students and staff for character, both in the classroom and in broader settings.
7. The school will create visual and audio reminders to keep the benefits of good character and the practice of the Character Quality of the Month fresh in the minds and hearts of the staff and students.  Examples include: