Orchard Heights Elementary joined the Coalition early in the 2004-5 academic year, and quickly implemented a variety of strategies to promote, model, expect and celebrate behaviors that represent the Six Pillars.

Among the many approaches are:

1) Caught Being TRRFCC Tickets -- Students receive TRRFCC tickets when displaying Pillar behavior. The tickets go into the CC! Jar in the office and each Friday administrators call two students from every class to come to the office for pictures, visits to the principal treasure chest, and caught-being-good pencils. Administrators also select five students to lead the school in the Pledge of Allegiance the following week.

2) Sharks of the Week -- Each week, every classroom chooses a Shark of Character, a student who represents the Pillars. At lunch that person sits at the head table with other Sharks of the Week, eats with the principals, gets introduced to all students, receives a certificate and visits the treasure chest. The school's informal research reveals that its best attendance days are Thursdays: Sharks of the Week day.

3) Classrooms of Character Awards -- After schoolwide assemblies, administrators choose two classes as Classrooms of Character for their outstanding behavior during the assembly. The principals present the certificate to the entire class in an impromptu, enthusiastic celebration.

4) Shark of Character -- The school gives special recognition to students who not only model the Six Pillars, but do so without selfish motive. One example: Students who brought in their piggybanks with money they were saving for a trip to Disneyland and donated it to the school's Caring Coins drive for tsunami relief.

5) The Shark Pledge -- All students take the Shark Pledge, vowing to being kind and respectful to others. This pledge stresses the importance of students accepting responsibility for their own behavior and how, as individuals, they can create a school climate that is positive and fun for everyone.

6) Word of the Week and Character Quote of the Day -- The day starts with a positive, motivational quote that reinforces the Word of the Week.

7) Character Worksheets -- When sent to the office, students must complete a Character Reflection Worksheet that promotes learning from mistakes and goal-setting to prevent similar errors in the future. Questions align with the Six Pillars.

8) Citizenship Efforts -- Several of the school's Community Service Projects have highlighted the Pillars of citizenship and caring, such as Giving Tree/Toys for Sharks; a clothing drive and Coins for Caring for tsunami relief.

9) Intervention Efforts -- The Shark Club is an after-school program that promotes academic and character improvement. High school tutors/mentors lead tutorials and games designed to promote character.

10) Responsibility Goals -- Many classes promote weekly goal-setting, aligned with the Pillar of responsibility. Often lessons include a book -- "Trouble at School" with the Berenstain Bears -- and personal goal sheets, with action plans.

11) Staff of Character -- The school has numerous strategies to reinforce the efforts and character of staff, as well as a Climate Committee that arranged for a schoolwide CC! in-service on March 17, 2005. Staff recognition efforts include: S.H.A.R.K. Awards, Sensation Shark Certificates, and Shark of the Month. The school will send seven staff members to a three-day CC! training in the spring of 2005.

12) Community of Character -- The school promotes the Pillars on its web site, in its newsletters and throughout the building, with posters in the office and in every classroom. In addition, it uses the "What's a Parent to Do?" handbooks in the Parent Resource Room.

"These are just a few of the ways that we are emphasizing that CHARACTER COUNTS! -- everywhere and all the time!" says Principal Dave LaRose. "We believe that performance is driven by climate and how kids and teachers feel when they arrive at school will dramatically impact how they perform. CC! is the vehicle we use to achieve our climate goals and focuses our energies on the positive. The behaviors we desire and expect are promoted and celebrated, and as a result, the less than desired behaviors are dramatically reduced!"