The Discovery Process Located in Central Pennsylvania Halifax - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

HA HALIFAX LIFAX AREA REA SCHOOL CHOOL DISTRI ISTRICT CT

Character Education “The Discovery Process”

to Discover

A Place and Achieve

• urBest

4/28/2015

Located in Central Pennsylvania

Halifax

Halifax Area Schools

• 4 schools
• K-1, 2-5, 6-8, 9-12
• 90 students per grade
• 101 teachers

Halifax Middle School

• 252 students
• 24 teachers + 9 support

staff members

Halifax High School

• 356 students
• 33 teachers + 9 support

About Halifax

• Rural community
• In the

Susquehanna River Valley

• 15 miles North of

Harrisburg

Character Education Through the Discovery Process Why we began!

 Halifax Middle School decided to design a culture:

• That would promote what good parents have taught their children at

home.

• That would promote positive peer pressure among students.

To change this culture:

• To change this culture, we would have to change student behaviors.
• To change behaviors, we would have to change student attitudes.
• To change attitudes, we would have to change what students think

about.

 We Realized:

• Every school has an ethos or culture.
• This culture is created by default or design.
• Too often a school culture is established and maintained through negative

peer pressure.

Character Education Through the Discovery Process How we got started!

Based our program on the Hyde School Model in Maine

• School Board and

Superintendent Support

• Read Joe Gauld’s book,

Character First, The Hyde School Approach

• Parent+Community Meetings
• 10 Teachers Visited Hyde

School

• Tailored Program for

Halifax Middle School

• Teacher In Service Days
• Continued to Assess and

Build

• Multi-Age Discovery Groups :
• MS groups consist of approximately five each of 6th, 7th, and 8th

graders

• HS groups consist of approximately four each of 9th, 10th, 11th ,and

12th graders

Four Divisions (N, S, E, W)

The Discovery Process Overview

• Promote a positive school environment through a highly
• rganized character development program.
• Groups meet with Discovery Teacher
• MS: 10 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the

afternoon.

• HS: 30 minutes before or after lunch.

4 Divisions consisting of 5 Discovery Groups work in unison on:

• Seminars and Discussions
• Intramurals
• Performing Arts
• Community and School Service
• School-Wide Jobs
• Team Building Activities
• Clubs

The Discovery Process Overview

Cycle Day North South East West 1 Intramurals PA or Team Building Seminar/Discussion Outside 2 PA or Team Building Intramurals Outside Seminar/Discussion 3 Outside Seminar/Discussion Intramural PA or Team Building 4 Seminar/Discussion Outside PA or Team Building Intramurals 5 Seminar/Discussion Seminar/Discussion Seminar/Discussion Seminar/Discussion 6 Club Club Club Club

FIV IVE GUID IDING ING PR PRIN INCI CIPL PLES ES

(ADO DOPTED PTED FR FROM THE H E HYDE DE SCHOOLS LS)

Destiny Humility Conscience Truth Brother’s Keeper

Discovery Key Words

(Adopted from the Hyde Schools and Lickona’s4thand 5thRs.)

• Courage to accept

challenges

• Integrity to be true to
• urselves
• Concern for others
• Curiosity to explore life and

learning

• Leadership in making

the school and community work

• Respect for our

environment, others and

• urselves
• Responsibility for
• ur actions

The Discovery Process Overview

Cycle Day

North South East West

1

Intramurals PA or Team Building Seminar/Discussion Outside

2

PA or Team Building Intramurals Outside Seminar/Discussion

3

Outside Seminar/Discussion Intramural PA or Team Building

4

Seminar/Discussion Outside PA or Team Building Intramurals

5

Seminar/Discussion Seminar/Discussion Seminar/Discussion Seminar/Discussion

6

Club Club Club Club

Seminars

 Discussions and seminars focus on character building concepts.  Teacher guided; student driven. “Draw out, Don’t Dump In.”  Guidelines are defined.  Students respond to short-answer questions.  Any student may speak his/her mind about the issue

• r topic.

 All shall be heard without interruption or judgment.  Utilize the Action/Reflection Cycle.

Intramurals

 Everyone participates. Opportunity for all.  Sportsmanship and cooperation are our primary goals. We are

supportive and encouraging.

 Modified volleyball, handball, basketball, and kickball are favorite

activities.

 We are not all gifted athletes, but we strive to give our personal best.  Push ourselves beyond our comfort zone.  Action/Reflection Cycle

School-Wide Jobs

Remove scuff marks in halls Put up chairs in cafeteria Sweep entrances Dust locker tops Mop hallways Clean windows Classroom clean- up Sanitize Desks

Performing Arts

 All students in each Discovery Group are responsible to participate in two performances with the student body and community: Annual Veteran’s Day Tribute and Talent Show

 Everyone participates. Opportunity

for all.

 We are supportive and encouraging.  We are not all gifted actors, dancers,

• r musicians, but we strive to give our

personal best.

 Push ourselves beyond our comfort

zone.

Comm mmun unity ity Se Servi vice ce Ac Acti tivi vities ties

 Collection for Charitable Organizations  Food and clothing drives  Community clean ups  Assisting at the local food bank  Create posters for school or community events  Spirit Days  Letters to veterans  Earth Day grocery bags  Crafts and potted plants for nursing homes  Visits to nursing homes

Team Building Activities

 Cooperation  Teamwork  Perseverance

 Destiny-Each of us is gifted with a unique potential that defines a destiny.  Humility-We trust in a power and purpose beyond

• urselves.

 Conscience-We achieve our best by an inner sense of right and wrong.  Truth-Fact and reality is our primary guide.  Brother’s Keeper-We help others achieve their best.  Courage-to accept and face new challenges.  Integrity-to be truly themselves while acting in sound moral character.  Concern-for others.  Curiosity-to explore life and learning.  Leadership-in making the school and community a better place.  Respect-for the environment, others, and ourselves.  Responsibility-and accountability for our actions.

Discovery Process Principles and Key Words

 Maintain positive thoughts  Is this Your Best?  Truth is our primary guide.  Are you following the Golden Rule?  Are you acting as a Brother’s Keeper?  Are you being a Leader?  What is your Conscience telling you?  Our actions affect others!  You can’t control other people, but you can control yourself.  We need to “Clear the Decks” to deal with issues.  What is discussed in the Discovery Room, STAYS in the Discovery Room. (This is true to a large extent to protect the feelings of those involved; however, there are important exceptions such as when a person is threatening to harm himself or another.  Leave a place better than you found it.  Are you part of the solution or part of the problem?  It is natural to feel “fear or anger,” but it is better to respond through “compassion or concern.”  Will my words or actions make the situation better or worse?  We all have a purpose in life. When we are “on purpose,” our words and actions make the world a better place.  All kids want to do the right thing.  Most parents are teaching right and wrong. Why are the expectations any different at school?  Do what is right, not what is cool.  Character is what you say and do when no one else is looking.

Discovery Process

Common Language

 Atmosphere of “community” within school  Students feel more included and have a sense of connection to the school and to one another.  Students are demonstrating better coping skills in their day-to-day interactions with both other students and adults.  There is better rapport between younger and older students.  6th graders look up to 7th and 8th graders rather than fear them.  7th and 8th graders rise to expectations that they are to be positive role models and leaders.

How We Know It Works

How We Know It Works

 Positive peer pressure has developed.  Students hold one another accountable.  Better rapport between students and teachers  Early morning contact with Discovery teacher and Discovery Group helps to ground students for the day and gives them an outlet to resolve problems that may have

• ccurred in school or at home.

 Students demonstrate greater pride in our school.  Almost no graffiti or vandalism

How We Know It Works

 Fewer failures  Because students are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings with their Discovery Group, many students are able to use these skills to better communicate with their parents.  Fewer discipline referrals for negative behavior  Zero physical fights since the program began

4/28/2015 22

123 19 107 1 78 27 1 22 6.5 60.5 4 41.5 12 32 3 21 2 19 1

1995-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005

Annual Discipline Totals

Total Days of ISS Total Days of OSS

How We Know It Works

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 ISD Days Served OSS Days Served

How We Know It Works

 By encouraging students to give their best at everything they do, we feel character education helps drive academic performance.  Since all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders began Pennsylvania State Testing in reading and mathematics, we saw the following percentage gains in students scoring Proficient

• r Advanced:

Reading Mathematics 2006-2007

72 % 69 %

2007-2008

72 % 70 %

2008-2009

77 % 74 %

2009-2010

77 % 76 %

2010-2011

80 % 80 %

How We Know It Works

Recognized in 2001 as a National School of Character Program was recognized for Educational Excellence at 2010 PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference Recognized in 2011 by the Shippensburg University School Study Council for sustaining an Exemplary Program Various visitors continue to view the Discovery Process: 1. Local School Districts 2. Local Media http://www.abc27.com/video?clipId=6293223&autostart=true 3. Pennsylvania Department of Education 4. Pennsylvania Middle School Association 5. Guests from Singapore 6. Feature article in Taiwanese Parent Magazine 7.

• Dr. Thomas Lickona and Dr. Ryota Yaginuma (Japan)

How We Know It Works Our Testimonials

Truth is the Norm. Brother’s Keeper is Followed!

1.Mr. Hassinger-vending machine story 2.Mr. Hassinger-probation student helping at locker 3.Mr. Milbrand-school dance story

How We Know It Works Our Teachers Speak

“ Even after students have been in the high school for several years, they still come back to my Discovery group to talk to me and meet with my new students. They make it a point that Discovery is important.” A Halifax Middle School Teacher “ I know our Discovery Program has an impact on our students. At the end of the year I watch 6th and 7th graders give farewell handshakes, high fives, and even hugs to our departing 8th graders.” A Halifax Middle School Teacher “ I noticed that there was a dramatic difference in the behavior of the Halifax Middle School students-positive difference-compared to other schools where I substituted.” A Halifax Middle School Substitute Teacher

How We Know It Works Our Students Speak

“The Discovery Group is like an extended family.” “We are taught to accept people for who they are and because of that we don’t fight.” “Teachers are more open with kids. We can tell teachers how we feel, and we talk about issues and the world.” “Our teachers respect us.” “We learn to be ourselves and make our own choices.” “Discovery helps Halifax be a nicer town.”

How We Know It Works Our Students Speak

The students in our school:

• … learned how to work with other students and team work.
• … have become closer.
• … have become more respectful of the teachers.
• … stay out of trouble and help other people become better students.
• … are more responsible and caring and not mean and rude.
• … have been acting a little different and a little nicer.
• … are getting better at being a brother’s keeper and a good sport. I

think we are improving.

• … are responsible and are kinder to people they meet or aren’t very

good friends with.

• … think more about each other and help each other out.

How We Know It Works Our Students Speak

I have become:

• …more respectful and more helpful to the students in Discovery and

everybody else. I have become nicer since we have been talking about things since we have been doing different activities.

• …a little better at saying what I feel and want to be. I like having
• intramurals. My favorite word is destiny.
• …independent and responsible and I have begun to make new

friends.

• …more considerate of other people. I look at situations differently.
• …more responsible and respectful.
• …more tolerant. I have become better at working
• with people. …kinder and I share things more.
• …a better person all around. I’ve learned how to help out more and

what I can do to help out ones in need.

• …a better brother’s keeper.

Character What you say and do when no one else is looking.

Contact Us:

Robert Hassinger: (717) 648-6879 Rick Ansel: anselr@hasd.us (717)896-4052 Dave Hatfield hatfieldd@hasd.us (717)896-4051 A Place

to Discover

and Achieve

• urBest