Community & Character Building

ALL SCHOOL COLORS

Colors is one of the new traditions at Gig Harbor Academy. This time of coming together and sharing not only reinforces the idea that students belong to a community in which they should take pride, but also it offers opportunities for students to practice their public speaking and performing skills.

Colors takes place on Friday afternoons. At each colors, a student is selected to ring the original school bell to signal the start of Colors to all of the classes. Traditions include the Pledge of Allegiance, welcome from the Head of School, and teacher announcements. In addition, classes share their current projects through skits, songs, dances, poetry, or inspirational readings. Even the youngest children quickly become comfortable speaking and making presentations to an audience of their peers, teachers, and parents. This time allows children to share in their community, learn the value of what it means to be a supportive audience, to listen politely to a presentation or performance, and to show appreciation for the performer's hard work and preparation.

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

Gig Harbor Academy strives to educate the whole child. This means we are dedicated to the education of our student's hearts as well as their minds to develop both intelligence and conscience. Volunteering helps students to explore their role within the community and how they can positively affect the lives of others.

Goals of the program include:

~To teach the value of compassion and caring.

~To become more aware of society's needs and of an individual's civic responsibility.

~To learn how one individual can be important to others.

~To gain personal experience and skills.

~To build self-esteem and self-reliance.

2nd and 3rd grade students help out at the Gig Harbor Fish Food Bank

CHARACTER BUILDING

GHA's focus on values plants seeds of enthusiasm for building positive relationships, the value of our presence in our community and our responsibilities in our families and school. These values are reinforced through class discussions, stories, role-playing and projects that help children to identify those values that help create a successful community. Each month, a different character trait is presented in the classroom and at colors.

MONTHLY CHARACTER TRAITS

September - Citizenship & Cooperation

October - Respect

November - Thankfulness & Gratitude

December - Compassion & Generosity

January - Responsibility

February - Fairness, Tolerance, & Acceptance

March - Honesty, Integrity, & Trustworthiness

April - Perseverance

May - Self-Discipline