Orrs Elementary wins Georgia School of Character Award.

Orrs Elementary School has been named a 2010 Georgia School of Character. The Griffin-Spalding school tied with Carmel Elementary in Woodstock, Georgia. Both schools will move on to the National Schools of Character competition.

Principal Dexter Martin said, “This is a long-awaited award for our school. We are humbled to receive such an honor, and it is our dream to continue to spread and live the good news of character. It’s more than just about the award; it’s about making a difference in the lives of our students and making an impact on our community. As principal, I really can’t express how I feel about Orrs Elementary receiving an honor of this magnitude. This has been such a team effort and commitment by all of our faculty and staff members.”

Orrs Elementary School’s Character Education Program began five years ago in conjunction with its School Improvement Plan. Assistant principal Marsha Clark said, “Every year we have built on the year before….beginning first with the school staff and students, then with parents, community and other stakeholders. Our school is now striving to live and breathe character in every action. We are helping our students make character a value that is natural and expected.” She continued, “We are very proud of the progress our character education program has made. Our character program remains in our school improvement plan each year with different expectations and goals that build on the progress from the year before.”  The Griffin-Spalding Board of Education recognized the faculty, staff, and administration of Orrs Elementary during their February 2 board of education meeting.

The application for the Georgia School of Character evaluated Orrs Elementary on these eleven principles of character:

1)      Promotes core ethical values and supportive performance values as the foundation of good character

2)      Defines "character" comprehensively to include thinking, feeling, and behavior.

3)      Uses a comprehensive, intentional, and proactive approach to character development.

4)      Creates a caring school community.

5)      Provides students with opportunities for moral action.

6)      Includes a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops their character, and helps them to succeed.

7)      Strives to foster students' self motivation.

8)      Engages the school staff as a learning and moral community that shares responsibility for character education and attempts to adhere to the same core values that guide the education of students.

9)      Fosters shared moral leadership and long range support of the character education initiative.

10)  Engages families and community members as partners in the character-building effort.

11)  Evaluates the character of the school, the school staff's functioning as character educators, and the extent to which students manifest good character.