Eldridge Park Named 2011 State School of Character

Lawrence Township's Eldridge Park Elementary School has been chosen as a 2011 New Jersey School of Character by the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional and Character Development (NJASECD). The prestigious award gives Eldridge Park status as a state School of Character for a three-year period running through 2013.

Representatives of Eldridge Park Elementary School will attend a special recognition ceremony during the NJASECD annual conference at Rider University on March 15.

Eldridge Park will now compete in the National Schools of Character program administered by the Character Education Partnership in Washington D.C. National finalists will be selected by March 1.

Eldridge Park was selected as a winner based on the way it incorporates the 11 key principles of the Schools of Character program. These principles include:  

• promoting core ethical values
• defining character comprehensively
• using an intentional and proactive approach
• creating a caring school community
• providing  students with opportunity for moral action
• providing a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum for all learners
• striving to develop student self motivation
• engaging staff as a learning and moral community
• fostering leadership and long range support
• engaging families and community as partners

NJASECD receives support from the New Jersey Department of Education and the Educational Information and Resource Center. Funding for the New Jersey Schools of Character program is contributed by the New Jersey Education Association.