"CHARACTER COUNTS! has been caught in St. Lucia," says Katie Zawacki, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in the Eastern Caribbean island.

Principals, school counselors, teachers and students can identify all Six Pillars, including the Pillar color and the Character Carousel animal representing each trait. For the entire school year, Augier Combined Primary has been using CHARACTER COUNTS! language in assemblies, special events, daily classroom activities and as part of disciplinary actions.

The children are absorbing the character traits through the use of the language by everyone at the school and especially the use of the animals from the Character Carousel.

The year ended at this school with the dedication of a Character Garden, where all children recited the Kids for Character Pledge. The Augier Character Garden, which displays brightly painted pillars, became a main feature of an island-wide "Grounds Beautification" project that is part of the CC! program. The Pillars were designed, built and painted by Peace Corps Volunteers John & Katie Zawacki in partnership with the school principal.

All of the other primary schools in this southern education district of St. Lucia have received training in implementation and maintenance of CHARACTER COUNTS!. Using the approach of identifying desired behaviors, Katie has led the entire staff of each school in developing "unique" definitions for each character trait. The idea is for each school to develop their CHARACTER COUNTS! programs according to their needs using all their St. Lucian creativity.

When Katie completes her Peace Corps Volunteer service in March 2007, she expects CHARACTER COUNTS! in St. Lucia "will continue its growth and will be producing an abundance of good character."

But ideas, materials and resources are still in need, she says. "We work from having no supplies or materials provided by the Ministry of Education and many parents cannot contribute." To help with resources or by sharing ideas, contact Katie at papazawacki316@yahoo.com. Please identify your e-mail by mentioning "CHARACTER COUNTS!" in the subject line.