Activities encourage good character among students

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - As part of a statewide initiative, the week of Oct. 16-20 was designated School Violence Awareness Week at the Freehold Township elementary and middle schools. Activities were organized at each school in order to encourage good character and raise awareness for the prevention of violence.

The Laura Donovan School began School Violence Awareness Week with a Character Counts assembly performed by Primary Focus, a national group which promotes six pillars of character: responsibility, trustworthiness, caring, fairness, respect and citizenship.

According to a press release, the six pillars of character are part of a district-wide character education program which is promoted during the year to focus on exemplary behavior and positive choice-making principles. Programs throughout the district also address bullying, violence issues and prevention strategies.

The Primary Focus group visited several schools in the district to share their performance. After the assembly at Donovan, the college-age performers visited with students by grade level to answer questions and role play various situations.

"Primary Focus provides a clear-cut visual understanding of what the pillars of character are," said Joanne Mercadante, guidance counselor at Donovan. "It reinforces what we do all year long with our many grade level projects to promote good character."

Some of the projects involve community service, role playing situations, reading and discussing books which feature character education and creating various displays and posters which are visible throughout the schools.

In order to further reinforce the district's focus on the safety and welfare of its students, local law enforcement officers and firefighters were also invited to the schools to provide demonstrations on safety throughout the month of October.

"We have a thorough plan for safety in our schools," Superintendent of Schools William Setaro said. "We focus on providing children with skills to make the right choices and to avoid and resolve conflicts."