What is CHARACTERplus?

CHARACTERplus is a new program adopted by the Independence School District. The purpose of CHARACTERplus is to emphasize positive character traits in all areas of a student’s life.
Parents, community members, teachers and counselors gathered together to determine “traits of the month” that they believe reinforce the positive character traits already being taught in many homes. The traits will be blended into the curriculum, become a part of extracurricular activities, and be displayed throughout the community. The Independence School District believes that modeling character traits may be the most effective way of passing them on to students. Today more than 700 schools in over 130 districts are active in CHARACTERplus. Studies of those schools have noted significant positive changes in office referrals, parent relations and school leadership.
You will be hearing a lot from students about the Trait of the Month and we hope you’ll be seeing the trait posted around town as well.

How Can I Support CHARACTERplus?

Just click below to sign up as a supporter of CHARACTERplus. You will receive signs each month that you can print out and put in your home or business, get updates on CHARACTERplus in the schools and in the community, and get a copy of the Student of Character logo to print out on your stationery or business correspondence, or set as your screen saver. In addition, parents should feel free to contact their school to see how they can help support CHARACTERplus. If you are a business or organization wanting to display a banner, adopt a school, or sponsor Word of the Month billboards, contact Public Relations Director Nancy Lewis.

Traits of the Month

January:  RESPECT – to show consideration to self and others
February:  COOPERATION – to respectfully play and work with others
March:  INITIATIVE – to act and make decisions on your own
April:  PERSEVERANCE – to continue trying in spite of difficulties
May:  SELF-CONTROL – to express your feelings in an appropriate manner
June:  COURAGE – to remain strong when faced with difficulty
July:  LOYALTY – to be faithful to a person, a team or an idea
August:  AMBITION – to have strong determination to accomplish goals
September:  RESPONSIBILITY – to be accountable for your actions
October:  INTEGRITY – to do the right thing
November:  CITIZENSHIP – to be a productive and responsible resident
December:  COMPASSION – to understand the challenges of others and to want to do something about it

You can turn in a nomination by filling out the form below. Each quarter, nominations will focus on three character traits, and how well nominees portray one of those traits. The traits for this quarter are loyalty, ambition, and responsibility.

The Community Member of Character will be chosen quarterly and will be decided by members of the CHARACTERplus Community Cadre.

To place your vote, please click here.

Temple-Young is full of ambition! She deserves recognition for realizing ambitious dreams for our community. When doctors told her years ago that she had months left to live…first she beat cancer then she chose to devote her life to our community. She is a passionate full-time volunteer serving the Independence community through her leadership, officially with Van Horn LINC Caring Communities and the Sugar Creek Optimists, and additionally with anyone she encounters who has a need. Serving as Van Horn Caring Communities LINC Site Council Chair for over a decade, she has not only made her dreams for the community come true, she's helped others realize their own ambitions. Her leadership and involvement with that Site Council brought about many great things including the Fairmount Community Center and North West Development Corporation. Her ambition guided her to take the lead in developing many other initiatives. She founded a 501c3 to create the Kids 4 Cure Cancer Walk. She spearheaded the Green Thumb Club Community Garden. She runs the Van Horn Community Food Pantry organizing food drives, holiday baskets, food deliveries, and more. She is always sharing her ambition by teaching in her community. She is currently teaching life skills to a group of young adult women weekly at Van Horn High School. She has devoted her life to the betterment of the people of Independence, and she will continue to share her ambitions for the rest of her life.