Character Counts
Supporting the development of institutional values through growing values for life. Gimnasio El Hontanar has adopted the philosophy of the program CHARACTER COUNTS!, which is a pedagogical approach that links the whole educational community and whose central focus Is the character of students based on the following pillars:
Trustworthiness:
Students develop and demonstrate the quality of character reliability. They understand that trust is an essential ingredient in meaningful and lasting relationships, as well as success in school and in their careers. Students strive to gain the trust of others by demonstrating ethical virtues such as integrity, honesty, the promise of peace, and loyalty.
Respect:
Students believe that the well-being and dignity of all people is important simply because they are human beings and that each person should be treated with respect, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, political ideology, gender, age, or other personal or physical characteristics.
Responsibility:
Students can demonstrate the characteristic of responsibility by properly taking responsibility of their lives and by recognizing their power to choose what they think (including their attitudes and ways of thinking), and to have responsibility for the consequences of their decisions.
Fairness:
Students strive to be fair and equal in all their actions: 1) taking turns; 2) playing according to the rules, 3) giving due credit to others; 4) asking or taking only the right part (i.e., what is due to them). They are never: 1) cheaters, 2) claim credit for the work of others, 3) reckless or accuse others unjustly, 4) are not above mistakes or ignorance.
Caring:
Students understand that care - including the virtues of compassion, kindness, benevolence, altruism, charity, generosity and sharing - are at the heart of ethics and strive to show a concern for the sake of others, showing compassion for what they suffer and have some need to provide support in the form of donations and/ or personal service.
Citizenship:
Students demonstrate citizenship by fulfilling their civic and social responsibilities and contribute to the well being of communities in which they are members (including their school, neighborhood, and country).
Program Implementation
Trimester | Cycle | Axis | Wheel of Success | Pillars |
I Trimester |
I Cycle |
Study Habits |
School Climate |
Responsibility |
II Trimester |
I Cycle |
Sexual health |
Social and Emotional Growth |
Respect |
III Trimester |
I Cycle |
Social Service |
Social and Emotional Character |
Citizenship, Caring |
- The learning of Character starts at home.
- Character is a learned behavior and should be developed with the parents.
- Teaching our kids to think independently and to know difference between right and wrong.
- To support the personal growth project of the school.
What is Character?
Character is a set of traits, qualities, or behavior that shows someone’s true nature and his or her way of thinking and acting in a given situation.
Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends, and country
Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant and accepting of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements
Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes • Set a good example for others
Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly • Treat all people fairly
Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need
Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer
- Teaching, reinforcing, and modeling each of the six pillars will help our children to form their character and ours.
- Teaching the meaning of the six pillars of character.
- Reinforcing acceptable behavior standards at home. Set limits, projecting consistently applied consequences.
- Promoting values regularly. Emphasizing good results of ethical behavior. Recognizing that the world is imperfect but that acts and behavior can make a better world.
- Modeling the pillars of the character through actions and words. Showing what a person of character says, does, and believes.