• Home
  • Posts
  • “Good Student” or “Good Person” – Why Choose?

“Good Student” or “Good Person” – Why Choose?

goldbrassbalancescaleisolatedonwhitebackground-signof

By Patrice Kopas

Next week, Greenwich Catholic School will participate in National Catholic Schools Week. Along with more than 7,500 schools across the country, our community will come together to celebrate our students, our teachers, our faith and our future.

For almost 50 years, Greenwich Catholic School has offered students a unique experience rooted in faith, surrounded by community and committed to excellence. As Principal, I have always held our students to high academic standards, but more than that, we work as a team to cultivate an environment of collaboration, respect, tolerance and generosity of spirit. At Catholic Schools, being a good student is as important as being a good person.

When one considers that a child spends almost half of their waking hours at school each week, the influence teachers and fellow students can have on that child is immeasurable. That’s why a positive and nurturing environment is important for every student, especially as they begin to mature during their middle school years.

When parents and educators think beyond the classroom, we need to consider what “must haves” to look for in a school.

Building Character
We can all agree that telling the truth, looking someone in the eye, and doing the right thing when no one is looking are traits of strong character. If children learn by example, who are the people helping to build character in your child? As children start to more fully develop their sense of self, we need to set realistic expectations to guide them.

At Greenwich Catholic, we want our students to be “caught doing good.” In younger grades, teachers foster inclusion, whether it’s during games at recess or when working as a group on a STEM project in class. We find “character” in everyday tasks in our middle school – in something as simple as holding the door for parent volunteers, or as complicated as showing tolerance when debating a social justice issue in Social Studies or Religion class. Respecting and appreciating those whose ideas differ is a cornerstone of character-building.

Fostering Independence
When a student is struggling in a class, are they permitted to self-advocate? Once a student moves on to high school, a parent’s role “in school” typically lessens compared to middle school. When your child needs to approach a teacher, guide them in what to say, but trust them to say it for themselves. Encouraging them to organize their thoughts, express their position, listen to feedback, and construct a solution is critical to their development. Yes, it’s a parent’s role to be the safety net, but failure should become a positive learning experience. It comes as a surprise to some parents when their child can rebound and become successful.

Preparing for the Future
Just as elementary school leads to middle school, middle school is a time to fully-prepare for the rigors of high school. Find a balance. A solid academic foundation is important, and it’s hard to argue the value of a great report card or exceptional test results. However, we all have a role in building character in our children, and often it takes more patience and consistent reinforcement than the most challenging math problem ever would.

When I visit classrooms at Greenwich Catholic School, I see these “must haves” first-hand in our engaged students, thought-provoking class discussions, and an atmosphere of inclusivity. Research shows that in a positive school environment, students feel better prepared to learn and are willing to try new things. Loosen the reins gradually as Middle School progresses. By 8th Grade graduation, your child will be ready to practice the independence and autonomy necessary to be a successful and engaged High School student.

Our graduates are well-prepared for high school because of the foundation they receive at GCS. As part of our Catholic Schools Week celebration, we invite you to join us at our Open House events on Sunday at 12noon, or on Tuesday at 9am to tour our campus, meet our students and faculty, and learn more about what makes GCS such a special place.

 

Related Posts
Loading...