Blessed Sacrament named a School of Character

Courtesy photo/Blessed Sacrament Catholic School

+ Enlarge

Courtesy of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School

SANDY — Blessed Sacrament Catholic School was named a 2011 Utah State School of Character (SSOC). The award was presented at a banquet on April 6 at the University of Utah by representatives from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Community of Caring, housed at the U of U.

Sponsored by the Community of Caring and the Character Education Partnership (CEP), the SSOC awards program recognizes schools for their accomplishments in what is called "character education," based on 11 core values determined by the CEP. These principles include regular assessment of the learning environment, providing a challenging curriculum that aims at helping all types of students, working with families of students and the community to build students’ character, maintaining a school staff that adheres to the same ethical standards expected of students, being proactive in building students’ character and helping to build students’ self-motivation.

According to Penny Keith, program coordinator for the Community of Caring, "Blessed Sacrament has developed a model comprehensive Character Education program. Their Holocaust unit, art project and Alzheimer’s Buddy project all reflect a commitment from everyone associated with Blessed Sacrament-students, staff and parents alike-toward an inclusionary atmosphere." The term inclusionary typically means that an organization does not segregate students with disabilities from the rest of the school’s population.

The Utah winners were chosen by a panel of reviewers who have been involved in character education and student development for many years. Blessed Sacrament Catholic School was submitted as one of the state’s nominees for the National Schools of Character award.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School was also recognized for two programs in the Innovations in Character Education for their creation of a Character Tree and their annual portfolio, "Reflections in Faith, Academics, Character."

These programs have been sent to the Character Education Partnership as possible candidates for national recognition in the area of Promising Practices.