Character, Leadership & Service 

How is your school demonstrating Character, Leadership, and Service during the 2017-2018 school year? 

Share your examples by sending photos, videos, articles, websites, etc. to Justyn.Knox@dpi.nc.gov with a brief explanation of an activity or project that exemplifies good character. Selected exemplars will be placed on the Character Matters website.  To receive the Character Education Update please sign up here. Character Matters is now on Facebook.  To like and follow our page click here. 

NYLC Service Learning Conference 

Each year the National Service-Learning Conference brings together more than 700 educators, administrators, higher-education faculty, non-profit leaders, government officials, AmeriCorps members, and students from across the nation and around the world for three days of learning, connection, and inspiration. This year, the National Service-Learning Conference’s theme is Justice in Action. 

The conference provides more than 100 hands-on learning opportunities through workshops, keynote and thought leader sessions. Topics range from social-emotional learning and civic education to youth leadership and international service-learning. Youth of all ages are welcome at the event (with an adult mentor). 

Click Here For Registration

Grant Opportunities 

• Learning to Give offers mini-grants to bring service into the classroom. They reviews applications monthly. Apply now.

• Sandy Hook Promise is organizing Start With Hello Week, from February 5-9. This initiative teaches students the skills they need to reach out to and include those who may be dealing with chronic social isolation and create a culture of inclusion and connectedness. Learn more about how you can participate.

• YSA and Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation are looking for 125 of the best ideas from young people to end childhood hunger. Apply by February 12, 2018!

•  Eco-Hero Awards Deadline: February 28 Every year since 2003, Action For Nature has sought to recognize and reward young people between the ages of 8 and 16 who are taking action to solve the world’s tough environmental problems through creative environmental projects with a cash prize up to $500, certificate of achievement, and public recognition.

• Environmental Education (EE) Grants Deadline: March 15 The EPA is making available up to $3 million in funding for locally-focused environmental education grants under the 2018 EE Local Grant Program. Ten RFPs are being issued nationally, one in each of EPA’s ten Regions, for a total funding of up to $3 million nationwide. EPA anticipates awarding three to four grants in each EPA Region, for no less than $50,000 and no more than $100,000 each, for a total of 30-35 grants nationwide.

• The Barron Prize honors young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive impact on people, their communities, and the environment. Winners receive $10,000 to support their service work or higher education. The deadline to apply is April 15.   

Integrate Character Values In Your Lesson with "The Walking Classrom"

The Walking Classroom is a national award-winning education program that provides students with an innovative way to get exercise without sacrificing instructional time.  

The nonprofit program’s “Walk, Listen and Learn” methodology capitalizes on the favorable link between exercise and cognitive function. Each student in a classroom gets a special purpose audio device that comes preloaded with over 100 educational podcasts. Character Values are embedded in each podcast.     

Students take brisk 20 minute walks while listening to custom-written, kid-friendly podcasts that begin with a brief health literacy message and transition to topics on social studies, science and English language arts and integrate character values.  The content directly aligns with either the 4th grade or 5th grade standards, but the topics are appropriate for students in grades 3 – 8 and are often incorporated across grade levels.  

The Teacher’s Guide, complete with an extensive lesson plan and comprehension quiz for each podcast, is also a great resource for overburdened teachers. Included in each lesson plan are questions about a character value that is incorporated in each podcast.  Students return to the classroom in better moods, more focused, and more likely to engage in post-walk discussions.  Teachers regularly report that after implementing The Walking Classroom, students retain the information better, exhibit better behavior and engagement in the classroom, and demonstrate better understanding of healthy habits.  

For information about the program, go to www.TheWalkingClassroom.org

2018 Heritage Calendar

Celebrating the NC African-American Experience 

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is proud to have partnered with AT&T to provide educational resources for The Heritage Calendar 2018: Celebrating the NC African-American Experience.

The Heritage Calendar is a project sponsored and created by AT&T (since 2013) in an effort to recognize and honor a diverse group of individuals who have made significant contributions to the lives, causes, and experiences of African Americans in North Carolina. The 2018 Edition of the Calendar features outstanding and remarkable individuals who have made achievements in a variety of fields including education, business, the performing arts, athletics, community service, law, and STEM. Each honoree is considered to be a “role model through their integrity, vision, and dedication to excellence”.

We are excited to announce that twenty-eight of the 2018 Heritage Calendar Lesson Plans are now available in Schoolnet. Educators across the state can search for the term "Heritage Calendar" on the "Find Materials" page on the Instructional Materials section of Schoolnet. The lesson plans cover a variety of grade levels and subject areas and have been vetted by our content specialists.