Archived Home – Richmond Community of Caring

P.O. Box 25643 | Richmond VA 23260 (804) 317-8569 info@communityofcaringrva.org

Character.org has recognized Chimborazo, Fairfield Court, George Mason, and Woodville elementary schools for winning practices in character development!

As part of its annual program showcasing innovative best practices in character education, Character.org has recognized Chimborazo, Fairfield Court, George Mason, and Woodville elementary schools for winning practices in character development. The four schools were among 300 districts, schools and youth-serving organizations from the United States, China and Mexico to receive the 2017 Promising Practices Award. | Read the press release

“Building Brighter Futures for Our Youth”

Community of Caring is the program that caring schools select. The Community of Caring program is an evidence-based, nationally -recognized character education program in over 1,400 schools nation- wide and in Canada. Community of Caring is a research-based program with proven results and has been designated as a “promising program” by the Department of Education and a “select program” by the Center for Advancement of Social and Emotional Learning.

“In Community of Caring, we believe the quality of caring we give to our parents, to our brothers and sisters, to our families, to our friends and neighbors, and to the poor and the powerless endows a life, a community with respect, hope and happiness.”

Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Founder

Judith Stallings

Chimborazo

Community of Caring has become an integral part of Chimborazo Elementary School. Our school has a Community of Caring committee that develops activities to incorporate the core values in our daily routines. Our first COC project for this school year has been the school adoption of Ed White E.S. in Houston, Texas. Our students, parents as well as our community have contributed school supplies to assist their families in recovering from Hurricane Harvey. Our students have been recognized during morning announcements for demonstrating the core values through this project. Their names have also been displayed in our cafeteria as well. The recognition of the students, for assisting others in need, has had a positive impact on our school. My principal has recently stated that he would like the implementation of the core values to flourish in our school.

Pamela Fowler

Fairfield Court

Since the implementation of Community of Caring at Fairfield Court Elementary, parental involvement in school activities and functions has increased. Parents have now begun to inquire about our upcoming monthly activities. Students have also done the same. Because of the Community of Caring program, Fairfield Court Elementary has won two national Character.org awards. Our Community of Caring ambassadors have even continued to demonstrate their core values in their roles as ambassadors at their selected middle schools and continue to represent Fairfield Court well.

Tierra Jenkins

Woodville

I became the led teacher for Community of Caring at Woodville in 2015. During my time in this position thus far I have implemented several programs and initiatives to focus on parental involvement and student leadership because those were described to be lacking components at our school. Since then, we have received so much positive feedback from students, faculty members, and parents. Students have more opportunities to show character and actually want to be recognized for their efforts. Staff members are also acknowledged for displaying the core values on a daily basis through our Shout Out system. Woodville has been recognized nationally by Character.org for two of our programs, Student Hosts and Citizen of the Month. Student Hosts is a program where students with incarcerated parents have the opportunity to serve as school ambassadors. They assist new students in their transition to Woodville, school functions, community engagement activities, etc. Citizen of the Month is a program where one student per classroom is recognized each month for showing the monthly character trait throughout the building for the entire month. These students are recognized in front of their peers and and a pizza party is held for them and their parents. At this luncheon the parents are briefed on the monthly character trait, the meaning, and the students share what they did that set them apart from their peers. Community of Caring has truly helped our efforts in creating a friendly school climate for our staff, students, and parents!

Sequoria Anderson

Bellevue

I am the proud mother of two wonderful Bellevue Elementary School students! As a RPS parent and educator, I am extremely passionate about "growing my children into the individuals that they are destined to become". Fortunately, over the last seven years, Bellevue has encouraged, nurtured, and loved our children in their physical and mental growth. I always brag to my friends, that Bellevue is a hidden jewel. Every day, I am thankful to know that our children learn the importance of core values like caring, respect, responsibility, trust and family, while at school.

My daughter is a 3rd grader at Bellevue Elementary. Since the last presidential election, she has been curious and very interested in giving back to the community, by helping the homeless. Before school started, I suggested that we speak with her school counselor about helping her bring her idea to life. After speaking to her counselor, and learning that her service project would soon become an entire school initiative, she was proud and overwhelmed with happiness! Not only has this service project allowed my daughter to enhance her leadership skills; this service project has sparked an interest in a variety of students. Students have volunteered to become “Ambassadors of the Homeless Service Project”, in an effort to collaboratively show sincerity and love for those in their community who are less fortunate. When I think about children volunteering to help those less fortunate, it really warms my heart. This simple imitative will teach our children how to love and take pride in their community. It will also teach them that they are responsible for what goes on around their neighborhood and they are never too young to make a change in the world. At this point, I could continue my letter for several more pages, however I will not. I challenge those who are listening, to go and speak to our Bellevue students for yourself! Bellevue has some of the most caring and respectful students in RPS. As an active parent in the Bellevue community, I love to watch my children grow into strong-minded, confident, and honest individuals. The Community of Caring Core Values: caring, respect, responsibility, trust, and family will help to shape our future leaders of tomorrow.