'Week of Respect' Underway at Lazar

Students at the Lazar Middle School are in the middle of a "Week of Respect." But Principal Sharon Carr said the concept of respect is nothing new to the school's students.

Carr said character education has been a strength in curriculum at Lazar over the past decade, with the school receiving several awards for its program, including being named a National School of Character. To coincide with the character education program, Carr said the school also has a strong anti-bullying program.

This week, both programs will culminate as guidance counselors and school administrators have developed activities and events to reinforce the theme of respect.

"Our guidance counselors really just take the ball and run with this," Carr said. "It's more of what we do [with our character education curriculum] and I'm very proud of our program. I'm really proud of our school climate."

Each morning this week, the Lazar News Network, which broadcasts to all the classrooms in the school, has offered a "Challenge Yourself" announcement. Thursday's "Challenge Yourself" task will encourage students to show respect to their families, Carr said, including cleaning up after a meal or sending a letter to a family member who lives far away.

During the day, students will learn lessons about respect, including writing journal entries and completing art projects. Students will also learn about random acts of kindness and those who are "caught" doing them will be honored and awarded certificates for their good deeds.

The school is also working on a "Bump Into Respect" project where students are helping to design a magnetic bumper sticker logo with themes of character and respect in mind.

Dr. Casey Shorter, the school district's assistant superintendent, said Lazar has been able to leverage this week's events to continue the positive education about its theme in the future.

"They've taken a 'Week of Respect' and kind of used that as a launching point for character education and respect activities going on all year," he said.

Carr also said the school has been able to localize the intention of the statewide event.

"We took what is a good thing that the state did institute and we almost celebrate our character education program," she said.

Shorter praised the school for being able to emphasize respect for the past several years, even before the state implemented the 'Week of Respect.'

"They're kind of ahead of a curve," he said.