The Camden Central School District is pleased to announce that for the first time, both of its elementary schools have been selected as National Showcase Schools by the Capturing Kids’ Hearts Organization. The news was delivered to staff and students by McConnellsville Elementary principal Kathryn Zangrilli at an assembly on Friday, April 24th, and by Camden Elementary principal Amanda Mitchell at an assembly on Wednesday, April 29th.
This is the first year that Camden Elementary School has received this award, and also marks the third consecutive year that McConnellsville Elementary School has earned this honor.
National Showcase Schools are places where it has been demonstrated that staff members go above and beyond to ensure a secure, connected, and enthusiastic learning environment for students.
Capturing Kids’ Hearts is a national character education organization that provides schools with a roadmap to enhance the climate and culture of a school community. For starters, each classroom has a social contract with self-driven standards, which provides a means for staff and students to hold each other accountable to that standard. In addition, students are challenged each month to do their best in exemplifying a particular character trait. The monthly focus provides each student with a short-term objective, and these objectives come together to encourage good habits and well-rounded growth that can improve learning outcomes and benefit students throughout their lives.
As National Showcase Schools, both buildings are recognized leaders in implementing and delivering the Capturing Kids’ Hearts Character Education curriculum among staff and students. It requires a meticulous selection process that involves peer discussions at the administrative level, campus data reviews, and a review of staff, student and family feedback that showcases the unique culture and climate of a campus. There are also periodic “Evidence of Impact” summaries that must be submitted, which allow each applicant school to elaborate on different aspects of the student experience. Finally, there is a site visit, called a “Traction Visit”, where a CKH Leadership Development Strategist visits to assess each school’s utilization of the curriculum.
Staff training is also a major component. For consideration, at least 85 percent of staff need to take a two-day training on the Capturing Kids Hearts process, and 100 percent of classrooms, including special areas, have to be on board with the methodology. When all of these ingredients come together, you get a National Showcase School.
For Mitchell, setting Camden Elementary School up to earn this distinction for the first time meant approaching the work with a sense of purpose, and providing consistent opportunities to engage.
“For me, this process has really reflected our commitment to meaningful change and the intentional culture-building work we’ve been doing over the past three years,” she said. “We’ve been very purposeful about embedding different components of the program into our faculty meetings, school wide assemblies and everyday operations as I’ve had the opportunity to see it come to life in classrooms throughout the day. It’s been important to not just talk about the work, but to see it lived out consistently.”
Zangrilli took the reins of an existing National Showcase School at McConnellsville, but had the challenging task of getting up to speed quickly to help maintain the standard set before her.
“The former principal (Mrs. Allen), staff, and families laid the groundwork for building an incredibly positive school culture at MES, which is what led to this recognition,” Zangrilli said. “I feel honored to be able to continue leading this initiative, and am proud of our families and staff for being dedicated to carrying on this important work. Anyone that walks the halls of MES can see and feel that it is truly a special place to learn and grow.”
Each school received a banner with the years of their recognition, along with a box of additional items to help celebrate the achievement.