C. Ian McLaren News ~ Character Ed.

At C. Ian McLaren School we reach beyond academics, to help our students' development as a person. Character education teaches universally-accepted value, such as respect, responsibility, integrity and honour and motivates youth to incorporate these values into their lives. Good character is essential for success in all aspects of life, from career to social relationships. As our mascot at our school is a cougar, we focus on what we call characteristics of a McLaren cougar.
The school will be focusing on eight virtues this year that constitute a McLaren cougar: kindness, forgiveness, honesty, respectfulness, responsibility, striving for excellence and acceptance. Teachers work on these virtues in the classroom, playground and in our family groups.
Family Groups are multi age groups of students from Kindergarten to Grade 6, who participate in various activities. An older child learns to be considerate, helpful and patient with a younger child. As they imitate the older students, they also bolster their self-confidence. With some direction and guidance, the older child can learn the difference between being helpful and bossy. A younger child will, in turn, imitate an older child, learning social skills and becoming aware of his or her own new abilities. The desire to be like the older children helps the younger children become more self sufficient. As part of our Character Education program we participate in Monthly Family Grouping activities.
We also have monthly assemblies which recognize students who demonstrate characteristics of a McLaren cougar. Students are nominated by an adult or other student in the school. They have a leaf place on our Character Education tree. At the assembly they receive a certificate and have their name entered into a draw for a Beanie Baby cougar. Four students are chosen at each assembly. We value recognizing students for positive behavior.
Kelso's Choice is another program we use in our school. Kelso's Choice is a program that helps students to differentiate when to solve small problems on their own and when to ask for adult assistance for a big problem.