Hawes Cares and Has an Award to Show for It

Hawes Elementary School has a motto–Hawes is a caring community. Apparently, the Hawes community isn't the only one to agree. The elementary school was recently recognized as an Honorable Mention New Jersey School of Character by the Educational Character Partnership for its commitment do bestowing character and providing opportunities for moral action in students.

Principal Paul Semendinger, along with teachers Jane Kalfus, Jill Rota, Ellen Raupp and Tom Trubac, were at Rider University on Tuesday for the at the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional and Character Development (NJASECD) conference to accept the award, one of 25 schools in the state to be honored at the ceremony and one of 11 to achieve honorable mention status.

"We work diligently to make learning meaningful and relevant," Semendinger said shortly after receiving the award on Tuesday.

"We focus on developing skills of character. It is great to know that this distinguished panel and committee recognize that our efforts are extremely meaningful and important to children."

Kalfus, a first grade teacher; Rota, a third grade teacher; along with fourth grade teachers Raupp and Trubac prepared 11 defined principles for effective character education. The principles ranged from promoting ethical values; to developing a holistic approach by taking into consideration cognitive, emotional, and behavioral perspectives; to including the greater community in the process; to providing real-world situations to students to challenge moral action; to instilling self-motivation on the part of students and more.

Semendinger said quite aptly that it takes a combination of teachers, students and community to come together.

"The teachers at Hawes are dedicated and extremely hard working," he said, adding that they're "true professionals" who care greatly about their craft and strive to improve themselves professionally.

"Above all, they care about children–deeply," Semendinger said. "They have created a school that truly is a caring community."

Of course, the students are "an absolute delight," the principal reported. "They show respect. They care about one another. Most often the children are seen smiling and enjoying their school work. They work hard to be excellent citizens of the school. I am very proud of them!"

“We truly live up to our school motto: A Caring Community,” Semendinger concluded.