One of the Long Beach City School District’s key educational goals is to support social and emotional learning and development by creating a school culture where trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship thrive. After using these six pillars of character as their guiding principles throughout the year, students took time to reflect on all they had learned during the district’s annual Character Education Celebration.

Lindell School held a Habits of the Heart Pageant. Each grade chose a different pillar to highlight, creating posters and writing essays that highlighted the meaning of the trait. In keeping with the pageant theme, each grade also crowned one special teacher as a representative for one of the six pillars.

At West School’s Character Rocks Concert, students gathered together to celebrate the six pillars with a karaoke-style sing-along. Representatives from each grade recited inspirational words that expressed their sentiments about good character. They concluded the celebration with a slide show chronicling the school’s recent multicultural day, which was a celebration of diversity and the commonalities we share with other people around the globe.

The Lido School Chorus performed at a character education assembly, singing “I Make My Own Sunshine,” “Reach,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” The songs reflected the school’s philosophy that all children are valued. The entire student body embraced the music as a celebration of the school’s character education mission.
 
At East School, students spoke about the lessons they had learned on what it means to be a “bucket filler,” which is a metaphor for encouraging kind and considerate behavior. Each class appointed representatives to recite examples of what it means to be a bucket filler. They encouraged their fellow classmates to speak up when someone is being bullied, help and encourage others, be a great friend, be helpful, share and help those in need.