Birmingham Elementary, Middle Schools Named State Schools of Character

' character education initiative is receiving state recognition, as two elementary schools and one middle school were recently named 2012 State Schools of Character.

Last week and elementary schools, as well as , were recognized as Michigan Schools of Character, a state-level branch of the national Character Education Partnership (CEP), a nonprofit based in Washington, DC.

State- and national-level character education awards from the CEP recognize high-impact programs in schools to develop respect, honesty, compassion and other ethical values, including reducing bullying and teasing.

Those schools achieving State Schools of Character status are now eligible for national awards from the Character Education Partnership. Schools retain their State Schools of Character designation for three years.

Birmingham is no stranger to the Character Education Partnership and its recognition. , Derby, and while the three elementary schools went on to last year.

To receive the state award, school staff spent months completing a lengthy application, describing the various initiatives taking place everyday to teach students the value of character education.

This is its third year in a row Derby has been noted as a State School of Character after picking up the award in 2010 and 2011.

"As we worked on the narrative, it was obvious to us that we truly are a school of character," Derby Principal Debbie Hubbell said in a message sent to parents. "Our philosophy is that character education is not an event but simply who we are each and every day."

At Derby, character education means everything from classroom discussions on special topics, to schoolwide standards for hallway behavior to various activities scheduled throughout the year.

At West Maple — which achieved a Michigan Schools of Character status in 2009, a 2009 National Honorable Mention Award and three Promising Practices awards — students leave "Paw Prints" throughout the school as evidence of good character. Students can also join groups like Peacemakers or check out family values posters scattered throughout the building.

At Harlan, which is receiving its first State Schools of Character award after three Promising Practices awards, students are collaborating with Bowers Farm in Bloomfield Hills as part of its Character Education program. The students will adopt a bee colony to further study Colony Collapse Disorder and will paint a hive to go on display this spring.