CMS was one of 23 schools and two districts chosen
Last month, the New Jersey Association for Social, Emotional and Character Development announced 23 schools and two districts had been chosen as 2017 New Jersey Schools of Character. Cinnaminson Middle School was on that list.
The application process involved several teachers and staff members coming together to submit an application that highlighted why Cinnaminson Middle School deserved to be chosen.
According to the NJASECD, selection criteria is based on Character.org’s 11 principles of effective character education, which include engaging families and communities, fostering shared leadership and providing students with opportunities for moral action.
“You can feel the positive climate in these schools the minute you walk through the door,” said Nina Kemps, New Jersey Schools of Character coordinator. “The students, staff and community are respectful and care about each other.”
District Anti-Bullying Coordinator Stephen Cappello said the district’s anti-bullying initiative is a small but important part of the school’s overall commitment to character education.
“The culture of the school is one where students, staff, parents and administration share in the responsibilities of promoting positive choices and fostering student leadership,” Cappello said. “As the school promotes a culture where everyone shares in the character education process, a hopeful byproduct is a safer, friendlier school with reduced incidents of bullying.”
Cinnaminson Middle School Principal Frank Goulburn says he believes CMS won not only because of what the students and staff do for the community outside of school hours, but what they do every day during class as well.
“Our Unity Club identified 10 core values that we feel are words to live by. Integrity, respect and kindness are some of them,” Goulburn said.
Goulburn says the teachers try to incorporate the 10 values into lesson plans whenever they can. When one of the values come up during classroom instruction, they will take the time to discuss it.
These 10 values are also used when selecting students of the month. Trust, responsibility, pride, tolerance, unity, equality, integrity, respect, kindness and friendship are the 10 values.
“It’s something that is embedded throughout the school,” Goulburn said. “It’s not just distinct to one club or class — it’s something that we try to weave in.”
Last week, CMS Unity Club held its eighth annual soup-er supper. Middle school students, staff members and parents made soup and bought it to the middle school to serve more than 100 senior citizens in the community a free soup dinner. Students also collected donations for the Bread of Life Food Pantry. Goulburn says the dinner is so popular, some seniors arrive more than an hour before dinner is served. After the supper, leftover soup was packaged and sold for extra donations to the pantry.
The soup-er supper is just one of many community events held by Cinnaminson Middle School. The students held a breakfast for seniors in December and a Winter Fest craft show that allowed community members to show off their crafting skills and sell their work.
“Cinnaminson Middle School is a special place,” Cappello said. “If you spend time walking the hallways, you will see a student body who greets you with a smile, holds the door for you and interacts with adults and others with respect.”
Cappello added Goulburn and Assistant Principal Hamm Kovel do an excellent job promoting the principles of character education in all facets of the school.
“The teaching and counseling staff work equally as hard to promote progressive character programs and to incorporate character education into the classroom,” Cappello said. “With participation at all levels, Cinnaminson Middle School truly embodies the inclusive goals of character education.”
Goulburn said the students, staff and administrators were all very excited to hear CMS has been chosen.
“It’s just a sense of pride that you’re a part of something special,” Goulburn said.
Cinnaminson Middle School will be recognized at the NJASECD conference on May 19 at Rider University.
