Character - More than a Cartoon

by Thad Falkner, Head of School

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you agree with Dr. King’s statement, then you will want to carefully consider the approach your child’s school takes to character development.   It is fairly straightforward to compare math or spelling techniques, but how do you evaluate pedagogy in this crucial area?  

At Wilson, the value we place on helping our students grow as both learners and people is reflected in the time and care we take in integrating character development throughout the life of our school, as opposed to the occasional auxiliary lesson or program.  Not only do children learn better this way, they also know intuitively that the way we spend our time reflects our priorities.   It all begins with our school motto: MYMAGO - Make Your Mark a Good One.

Each year, MYMAGO is incorporated with a yearly school theme, which rotates through a nine-year cycle, one for every grade level:
Trustworthiness
Respect
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Citizenship
Gratitude
Courage
Service
A faculty committee thoughtfully plans activities and displays for the year, which include presentations at school-wide assemblies by each class, as well as a whole-school art project.  Teachers also hold classroom meetings with students to connect the theme to their lives, both in and out of school.

While MYMAGO provides a consistent foundation for character development at Wilson, each year there are also a variety of activities and service projects that give our students the opportunity to practice what they are learning.  For example, the Pre-Kindergarten and 4th grade buddy classes join together to support Project ARK every year at the holiday season.  

Furthermore, given that our parents are such an integral part of the Wilson community, they, too, strive to live out MYMAGO.  WOW -- the Wilson Outreach Workshop -- was formed by parents to provide regular service opportunities for parents in the life of the school  Past projects have included Operation Food Search (100 cans for 100 days); Birthday in a Box; and Fall Drives benefiting Soles for Souls, Warner's Winter Warm-up,  and Halloween costumes for Southside Early Childhood.

At Wilson, we believe a true education means that the heart and mind are growing together, and we are committed to reflecting that on a daily basis.