The Camden Central School District is pleased to announce that McConnellsville Elementary School has been recognized as a 2023-24 National Showcase School by the Capturing Kids’ Hearts organization. The news was delivered to the campus community by principal Heidi Allen at a school-wide assembly held on Monday, May 6th.
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 a National Showcase School, McConnellsville has been designated as a leader in implementing and delivering the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process among staff and students. Getting to this point requires a meticulous selection process involving multiple site visits, called “Traction Visits” to assess how the curriculum has been implemented. In addition, the process involves peer discussions at the administrative level, campus data reviews, and a review of staff and student feedback that showcases the unique culture and climate of a campus.
Over 85 percent of staff needed 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 these ingredients come together, you get a National Showcase School. 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.
The improvement in student outcomes at McConnellsville is backed up by some key points of evidence. Since the full implementation of the process in the District began two years ago, disciplinary referrals at McConnellsville are down 38 percent. Students and staff are holding each other accountable at a classroom level through their classroom social contracts, which is reducing the need for higher level behavioral interventions. Chronic absenteeism is also down by 66 percent vs. this point one year ago.
Anecdotally, Allen has also seen tremendous growth beyond the numbers, and that growth was driven by a collective effort.
“This has truly been a team effort,” Allen said. “The faculty, staff and students, along with our families, have been supportive of both the process and the program. CKH is the framework around all we do to promote positive climate and culture in the building and guide the social emotional development and behaviors of our elementary students. I am so proud of everyone involved. I love this program because it encourages an environment and mindset of continuous improvement for all involved, while bringing the whole building together for a common goal: well-rounded students. In the end, it’s all about the kids!”