Rainbow District School Board approves system-wide character traits

Honesty, respect, empathy, responsibility, integrity, courtesy, resilience, acceptance, courage and co-operation. These are the character attributes that will be modeled, taught and expected in Rainbow Schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin.

The ten traits, adopted at the regular Board meeting on January 18, 2010, will provide the foundation for ongoing character development at the elementary and secondary level starting this fall. The traits were approved following a series of school and community consultations held during the 2009-2010 school year.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank everyone who provided input, including students, staff, trustees, parents and community members,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “These character traits are essential in developing and sustaining a safe and caring community. These system traits will be woven into all strands of the curriculum and embedded in the culture of all Rainbow Schools. They will be reflected in our communications with parents and the public as we continue to nurture a strong partnership between home, school and community.”

“In Rainbow Schools, character development is just as important as reading, writing and mathematics,” said Director of Education Jean Hanson. “We are not only teaching students problem solving and critical thinking skills, we are also instilling in them character traits to build good citizens who can lead us into the future.”

She added: “Character development is about self-awareness, self-discipline, reflection and understanding – doing what’s right because it’s the right thing to do. It is the cornerstone of a civil, just, humane, respectful, democratic society.”

Input into the character traits was received from trustees, the Parent Involvement Committee (which includes representatives from School Councils), teachers and support staff, the Special Education Advisory Committee (which includes representatives from a number of community agencies), the First Nation Advisory Committee, elementary and secondary students, and school administrators.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 674-3171, ext. 7217.