THE JOURNAL NEWS

SUFFERN Truth, manners and respect got personal for sixth-graders at Suffern Middle School yesterday during the annual kickoff of the school’s “character education” initiative.

Classmates wrote and acted in scenes designed to highlight the guiding principles of the program, which told students they needed to work at fairness, responsibility and empathy.

“You have to be open to learning and accept the consequences,” said Michaela Mariquit, 11.

Added classmate Kristin Tenore, 11, “It will change the school and the way people will think.”

Each year, the incoming sixth-grade class at the 1,160-student middle school takes time to discuss characteristics of a good student and good person and how to incorporate those lessons into the school day. The school also brings in outside speakers and groups to make the point.

“It really is bringing a respect for everyone regardless of who we are, where we come from, to recognize that people need to engage in certain behaviors in dealing with one another,” Principal Diana Jabis said. “In middle years, when kids are struggling with who they are, they sometimes engage in behaviors that are not respectful. We tell them, ‘You know this stuff.’

“What we do is remind them and give them strategies to engage other people. It’s part of what we teach here in the middle school. It’s brought a climate where kids can do the right thing at a time when peer pressure can be so compelling.”

This year, the nearly 350 sixth-graders spent yesterday at Camp Scuffy in Airmont doing team-building exercises. The games are designed to show the youngsters how to work together and give them a sense of community, said Janet Leale, the sixth-grade wellness teacher, who instructs sixth-graders in gym, health and Project Kids, the character education initiative.

“It helps us get to know each other,” said Matt Feinman, 11. “It helps you to figure out how to get through things by working as a team. It’s a great way to learn about all the lessons, and you can have fun doing it.”

Classmate Alex Koren, 11, said character education helped make the world better.

“The world would be a mess if we were all going around pushing each other, not being safe and not having any fun,” he said.

– Randi Weiner