The mission at Westwood Elementary is clear from the moment one enters the walkway to the entrance into the school. Six pillars serve as the foundation for the entryway and bear the TRRFCC values: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. 

"At Westwood, we challenge our students to shine their character lights at home, in our school community, and out in the world," says Barbara Gruener, counselor at the school. It begins with the guidance program. At the K-3 levels, the counselor makes classroom visits to teach the Six Pillars. Classroom guidance lessons usually include the Westwood 'Character Rap' and a challenge to students. In between visits, teachers reinforce these lessons by seizing teachable moments and applying character education concepts to these real-life classroom situations.

As a trainer of trainers for CC!, Ms. Gruener says she loves to reach out and share ideas. Since her training in 2000, she has conducted more than a dozen workshops for parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators throughout Texas. Her guidance page online (www.academicplanet.com/webs/bgruener) provides character articles, tips, resources, and links for educators and parents.

In addition, the school host special events. Students view multimedia presentations, puppet shows, song and dance performances and more. "Character really comes alive for our students through these assemblies!" says Ms. Gruener.

Incentive programs like Kids With Character and Character Cash catch students being good and honor them for being role models. Each month, homeroom teachers nominate one student as Kid With Character, and his or her picture appears on a bulletin board and in the local newspaper. When a student earns Character Cash, he or she chooses a small prize. Local businesses donate coupons as well. "It was especially heartwarming when a student turned it around and nominated his teacher, Mrs. Ellis, for Character Cash for her 'extra-good' character," says Ms. Gruener. "It is moments like these that tell our tale best."

Around the end of the school year, teachers ask students to summarize CHARACTER COUNTS! in their own words with a picture, essay, song, rhyme, or rap. "Their creative juices get flowing and the final products are unbelievable," says Ms. Gruener. "The school also sends home the 'Cool Character Challenge' so kids can keep their character muscles strong, chart their good choices, and earn money for our next service project. When they return in the fall, we brainstorm ways to use their hard-earned, real-life character cash to help others in need. Their suggestions are always amazing."