Veteran’s Day, November 11
Three Words A Day
Nov. 1 Smile, smile, smile.
Nov. 2 Parents welcome help.
Nov. 3 Do a favor.
Nov. 4 Respect the flag.
Nov. 5 Anticipation is fun.
Nov. 6 Call a friend.
Nov. 7 Donate your help.
Nov. 8 Keep on trying.
Nov. 9 Listen, then talk.
Nov. 10 Think before speaking.
Nov. 11 Treat guests thoughtfully.
Nov. 12 Compliment someone today.
Nov. 13 Care about people.
Nov. 14 Hold someone’s hand.
Nov. 15 List your wishes.
Nov. 16 Accept the truth.
Nov. 17 Don’t spread rumors.
Nov. 18 Go ahead – giggle.
Nov. 19 Work is important.
Nov. 20 Treat animals kindly.
Nov. 21 You make decisions.
Nov. 22 Why not today?
Nov. 23 Followers don’t lead.
Nov. 24 Words can hurt.
Nov. 25 Control your anger.
Nov. 26 Offer extra help.
Nov. 27 Don’t invite trouble.
Nov. 28 Don’t answer “Because.”
Nov. 29 Success is work.
Nov. 30 Seek sincere friends.
Dinner Dilemmas (Extras after the Weekly Ones)
To create family discussions that promotes Character Education in Pinellas County.
Dinner Dilemmas are designed to be sent home once a month with the students. Schools that send home a weekly newsletter could print one dilemma each week in its publication. During the week families are asked to discuss the dilemma. It is hoped that families will talk about the dilemma and decide how the character quality of the month relates to the situation presented. It is further hoped that families will discuss the dilemma of the week and decide how the character quality of the month applies to each family member.
Week 1
Situation: Sam and his friends are riding their bikes in the neighborhood. Many of the neighbors have American flags placed on their lawn for Memorial Day. Sam sees his friends knock over flags with the wheels of their bikes.
Dilemma: On the one hand, should Sam be offended, but say or do nothing? On the other hand, should Sam tell his friends the significance of flying the American flag?
Discussion: What advice would you give Sam?
Week 2
Situation: One of Sue's classmates has a mother who is serving overseas in the Army. Sue knows he is scared and proud of his mom. It is Veteran's Day soon and Sue hears other students saying they think we should have Veteran's Day as a day off so they can sleep in and play video games.
Dilemma: On the one hand, Sue would also like the day off to be at home, on the other hand she knows Veteran's Day honors the sacrifices of families like her classmate, who wishes his mom was home, too. Should Sue say something in favor of honoring Veteran's Day or let it go?"
Discussion: What advice would you give Sue?
Week 3
Situation: There is a patriotic parade marching down the main street on the 4th of July. The crowd is cheering for the local heroes. Sam hears his friends booing the heroes.
Dilemma: On the one hand, should Sam boo with his friends? On the other hand, should Sam stand up for the heroes and cheer anyway?
Dilemma: What advice would you give Sam?
Week 4
Situation: Sue hears her friends singing a patriotic song, but they change the lyrics to be funny and disrespectful.
Dilemma: On the one hand, Sue is offended, should she say something? On the other hand, should Sue say nothing about what they were doing?
Discussion: What advice would you give Sue?
Extra Dilemmas
Situation: Sariah in turning 18 soon. She has always been interested in joining the military after high school because she has relatives in the service who see the service as a true calling, and she knows she will receive financial aid to go to college after her term of service.
Dilemma: However, she has friends who say they would not join the military because of the sacrifices soldiers must make, including fighting in combat. She knows it is a serious commitment that will impact her life and so she wants to think through all the benefits as well as the consequences.
Discussion: Can you think of two benefits and two consequences that aren’t listed here that Sariah should consider?
Situation: Tyler has a neighbor who lives a few apartments down from his family. His neighbor has a large sticker of an American flag on his door.
Dilemma: Tyler has seen kids in the neighborhood go up to his door and draw on the sticker with markers. His neighbor has replaced it twice. The second time was just yesterday. Today at the bus stop a kid asked Tyler why he thinks the neighbor keeps replacing it. The other student said, “why does he care so much about a sticker?”
Discussion: What do you think Tyler should say?
Situation: There are soon going to be elections for important state and national offices. Liana hears other students talking about the candidates in rude ways and with insulting jokes. She had a lesson in class about respecting the opinions of others and how elections are one of the most important events American citizens participate in for the future of our country.
Dilemma: Two of her friends say that they think elections are pointless, that one vote won’t make a difference, and that everyone is just too angry.
Discussion: What could Liana say to them about why she would vote?
Quote of the Week
Week 1
“In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.” Barack Obama
Week 2
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy
Week 3
"Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." Adlai Stevenson
Week 4
"Duty, honor, country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be." Gen. Douglas Macarthur