Notable Days/Dates
National Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15-October 15 Resources
Bullying Prevention Month Resources More Resources
Red Ribbon Week Resources
National School Bus Safety Week Resources
National School Lunches Week Resources
Digital Citizenship Week Resources
Media Literacy Week October Resources
Three Words a Day
Oct. 1 Control your thoughts.
Oct. 2 Don’t think can’t.
Oct. 3 Put things away.
Oct. 4 Exercise improves attitude.
Oct. 5 Use positive words.
Oct. 6 Develop good habits.
Oct. 7 Friends take time.
Oct. 8 Trust your judgment.
Oct. 9 Like yourself first.
Oct. 10 Always pay attention.
Oct. 11 Build someone’s confidence.
Oct. 12 Questions aren’t dumb.
Oct. 13 Tell the truth.
Oct. 14 Love is best.
Oct. 15 Respect others’ feelings.
Oct. 16 Don’t fear failure.
Oct. 17 Everyone has worries.
Oct. 18 Ask what if__?
Oct. 19 Ignore put downs.
Oct. 20 Go ahead laugh.
Oct. 21 Helping feels good.
Oct. 22 Think before speaking.
Oct. 23 Always work willingly.
Oct. 24 Cheer somebody up.
Oct. 25 Never get discouraged.
Oct. 26 Consider others’ needs.
Oct. 27 Do for yourself.
Oct. 28 Don’t make excuses.
Oct. 29 Celebrate individual differences
Oct. 30 Support people's rights
Oct. 31 Just be kind
Dinner Dilemmas
Purpose: To create family discussions that promotes Character Education in Pinellas County.
Dinner Dilemmas are designed to go 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: Sue was in her guided reading group. Everyone was taking turns reading aloud. Some in the group were slow and cautious readers.
Dilemma: On one hand Sue became impatient for her turn. On the other hand, Sue knew she should be tolerant toward all readers.
Discussion: What is your advice for Sue?
Week 2
Situation: On Open House Night Sam noticed that Tony's family is very large. He had parents, siblings, and grandparents that all came. They were definitely a happy family, but they were also loud and boisterous.
Dilemma: Dilemma: some other kids gave Tony a hard time the next day because he had so many people and they drew attention. Sam knows that some kids didn't even come to Open House because they get embarrassed by their families or because their families are small, and they had to be at work. Sam also knows that every family is different, and it is all of them together that make up our community.
Discussion: What is your advice to Sam?
Week 3
Situation: All the neighbor kids wait at the same school bus stop. One girl has cerebral palsy. She goes to a special school and rides a different bus. The kids are consistently making fun of her.
Dilemma: On one hand Sue and Sam have joined in the taunting in the past. On the other hand, Sue and Sam have been learning about tolerance at school and now feel that this behavior is hurtful and wrong.
Discussion: What could Sue or Sam do or say?
Week 4
Elementary
Situation: A student comes to school with a hat on after chemotherapy. Her hair has fallen out. Kids grab the hat and toss it around. The girl is upset.
Dilemma: On one hand Sue choose not to join in. On the other hand, Sue feels she should speak up about tolerance towards those who look different.
Discussion: What advice do you have for Sue?
Secondary
Situation: Sue's class goes on a field trip to the St. Petersburg International Folk Festival where people from our state put together booths that represent the countries their families came from. They wear traditional clothing and some of their clothing is very different from what we see every day. Some of the kids in Sue's class make fun of their clothing and even go up to the people tell them that they think their clothing looks bad.
Dilemma: On one hand Sue chooses not to join in. On the other hand, Sue feels she should speak up about tolerance towards those who look different.
Discussion: What advice do you have for Sue?
Quote of the Week
“Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.” M. Scott Peck
“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” H. Jackson Brown
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” “Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Civilizations should be measured by the degree of diversity attained and the degree of unity retained.” W.H. Auden