Learning the ABCs of character

I received a lovely surprise last week. My daughter was named “student of the month” for the freshman class. Her nomination had nothing to do with grades or extra-curricular activities, but kindness.

How cool is that?

St. Philip High School's "Students of the Month" for Kindness

Kindness is one of several “student of the month” themes our middle and high schools celebrate. The list includes qualities like leadership, service, wisdom, cooperation, graciousness, honesty, patience, positive attitude, responsibility.

Why not test scores? We have some of the best in the area.

Why not athletic success? We have our share of swag.

Why not? Because that is not Christ’s definition of success.

St. Joseph Middle School's "Students of the Month" for Leadership

The two most important commandments are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. Talents are gifts from God, but these gifts are ineffective without good character. Our Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools aim to develop our children’s character alongside their gifts.

This is evident in our new program “Crayons to College and Career”, which recently received a grant from the Calhoun ISD. Creator Kyra Rabbitt wanted to encourage our littlest Tigers to think about higher education and their future goals.

What does it take for a successful future?

Most would say good grades and a great plan, but Ms. Rabbitt and her team believe there’s another component.

“Life is about more than grades and what you can put on paper,” Ms. Rabbitt said. “You need personal skills and to be strong in your faith. We want to celebrate the whole student and not just the academic piece.”

This is why “Crayons to College and Career” is starting with the ABCs of character.

Each week, our preschool through fifth-grade students will concentrate on two character traits, starting with “A for Attitude” and “B for Behavior”. Teachers will lead class discussions about these traits, read special books that correspond with these traits, and, at the end of the week, nominate students who best exemplify those traits.

It’s a mini-version of the middle and high school’s student of the month.

St. Joseph Elementary School's "Students of the Week" for Attitude and Behavior

All nominated students will attend a year-end celebration breakfast, during which a lottery will determine ten $100 college scholarships winners.

“We are so proud of all of our students and their daily behavior and hope this program will enhance traits they already possess, encourage new behaviors, all while instilling the importance of higher education for future success,” St. Joseph principal Sara Myers said.

There are plenty of talented people in the world, but not enough people with good character. Good character enables us to use our talents to love God and our neighbors.

Our Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools cultivate good character, promising our children a bright future in this life and the life to come.

How cool is that?

Comments, questions, have a few suggestions? Write us at BCACS.Blog@gmail.com.

A BCACS Christmas Story...

Christmas is a time for stories and here is one our BCACS staff shared with me.

Shortly before Christmas break, the staff of the St. Joseph Elementary School found a surprise on their desk in the morning – a large gourmet candy cane lollipop.

It wasn't just one grade or certain teachers – everyone had one. Not knowing whom to thank, the staff started to email each other for answers. No one knew.

Giant lollipops are sure to attract young eyeballs. Soon the students were aware of the staff' quest to know who gave the sweet treats. A few of the younger ones thought it must be Santa Claus, as leaving gifts in the night without a note is his calling card. Other students thought someone else fit that description – the school's custodian Mike Gagnon.

Mr. Gagnon has been with the BCACS for many years, starting at St. Philip High School before moving to St. Joseph Elementary School.

“Mike is a soft-spoken, friendly but quiet guy,” Cathy Erskine, BCACS enrollment manager, said. “He’s super-conscientious of the quality of his work and always willing to lend an extra hand whenever needed.”

“Our students think the world of him,” Jeanine Winkler, St. Joseph Elementary administrative assistant, said. “While other schools might consider his job to been done by someone invisible, our students consider him often throughout their day. He is on our prayer lists, they send him ‘I am Thankful for You’ cards at Thanksgiving, and there is always a ‘hello’ in the hallway and a ‘thank you’ when he unsticks a stuck locker.”

Turns out the kids were right. Mr. Gagnon was the staff's secret Santa.

“When I thanked him, his response was, 'I am just glad that I able to do something like that for you guys,'” Ms. Winkler said, noting his “humble quietness” before he returned to his work.

This story warmed my heart.

I have met Mr. Gagnon many times over the years, usually when picking up a kid’s project after school or dropping a kid off at the gym for basketball practice. He silently sweeps the floors and tidies the chairs, stopping only to ask if I need anything. A few times he opened a gate or a door when one of my kids “forgot” an important assignment.

I can imagine him cleaning the classrooms and the offices of our BCACS staff and leaving the simple Christmas gifts without a note or fanfare before turning off the lights and shutting the doors.

The custodian may be invisible in some schools, but not here. Our kids appreciate Mr. Gagnon and his work. More importantly, they could connect the dots between this simple gift and the humble man who gave it.

Comments, questions, have a few suggestions? Write us at BCACS.Blog@gmail.com.