Mill Pond School Awarded National School of Character

Congratulations to Mill Pond School for being designated as a 2016 National School of Character!

Mill Pond School is the only school in the state of Massachusetts to earn this prestigious distinction for 2016.

Suzanne Kenny (Principal), Lynn Thompson (6th grade Teacher), Christine Brouillard (Counselor), and David Cohen (Counselor) represented Mill Pond School and received the prestigious 2016 National School of Character Award during the 23rd National Forum on Character Education, held the weekend of October 14-15, 2016, in Washington, D.C.

Through an in-depth and rigorous evaluation process, Mill Pond School was found to be an exemplary model of character development. Each year, Character.org selects schools and districts that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development programs that show a positive impact on academic achievement, student behavior and school climate. Criteria for selection are based on Character.org's 11 Principles of Effective Character Education. The National School of Character designation is recognized for 5 years.

In addition to being awarded National School of Character, Mill Pond was also awarded a certificate for a "Promising Practice" award, which recognizes educators in the United States and elsewhere who have implemented unique, specific, and effective character education strategies. Mill Pond demonstrated this through "Celebrating Our Special Qualities and Embracing Our Differences" Spirit Week. Each day of the spirit week had a theme directly related to the ongoing integration of the school’s ten Key Values, including empathy, resilience and courage.

Character education is an educational movement that supports the social, emotional and ethical development of students. It is the proactive effort by schools, districts, communities and states to help students develop important core ethical (recognizing what’s right) and performance (doing what’s right) values such as caring, honesty, diligence, fairness, fortitude, responsibility, grit, creativity, critical thinking and respect for self and others.

Congratulations to Mill Pond School, the students, teachers, staff and families who continue to create a strong and positive learning community for strong character development, and the determination to demonstrate core ethical and performance values!