Parkway Elementary School has received a Promising Practice Award from national character education organization “Character.org.”
Parkway was recognized for its Pawsitive Days of Service project, which was named a 2016 Promising Practice by the organization, which looks at programs in schools, districts and youth-serving organizations from across the United States, as well as Canada, China, Columbia and Mexico.
Practices receiving awards from the organization include unique anti-bullying programs, creative ways to integrate character and academic subjects, effective strategies for developing student leadership and activities that build community, within the school and beyond.
The Parkway project, funded by a grant from the Ewing Public Education Foundation, brought the entire Parkway school community together to assemble take-home lunch bags for patrons at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
The project began with a school-wide kick-off assembly with a Trenton Area Soup Kitchen representative, and continued with grade level activities, a community collection of toiletry items and student reflections.
Parkway Principal Nicole Harris said the project allowed students to make a difference in the local community and gain perspective and leadership about how something that seems as small as making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or decorating a card can make a big impact.
The Pawsitive Panthers Days of Service project was held in January. It was designed and implemented by Parkway teacher Leigh Cline and Parkway guidance counselor Birgitta Donato.
By the conclusion of the project, the school had assembled more than 1,000 plastic utensils kits, 31 toiletry bags and other donated toiletry items, as well as 108 take-home lunches with student-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, other food items, a homemade card and a decorated lunch bag.
“At Parkway, we are dedicated to the development of the whole child and producing students who are connected to their community,” Harris said. “We were thrilled and honored to see our excited program recognized on an international level.”
Character.org will honor the 2016 Promising Practices recipients at the National Forum on Character Education in Washington, D.C. in October.
