Demopolis High School is implementing a new initiative this year to encourage students and faculty to earn their Tiger Stripes through a Core Values Character Education program. This program was established by Principal Terina Gantt and a team of teachers and administrators at DHS...the Tiger Stripes Team. At the end of the last school year, a survey was sent out to parents and students asking what they believed to be the most important character trait a student needs when leaving high school. The top responses were trustworthiness, integrity, empathy, and respect—giving four of the five letters that make up the word "TIGER." The only one missing was a “G.” Mrs. Gantt felt that, in addition to the top characteristics already identified, a growth mindset would be a perfect fit for their core values.
The program will start with four key initiatives: Earn Your Tiger Stripes (Students), Earn Your Tiger Stripes (Faculty), Fabulous Fridays, and Wristband Wednesdays. For Earn Your Tiger Stripes (Students), teachers will nominate students who have demonstrated one or more of the core values. These students will receive a tiger keychain. Earn Your Tiger Stripes (Faculty) involves teachers passing a stuffed tiger around each month to recognize other teachers for exemplifying the core values. The teacher who receives the tiger selects the next awardee.
Fabulous Fridays occur every other Friday when an email is sent to the faculty inviting them to honor a class in a specific class period. The teacher writes one or two sentences describing why that class is special. On Friday, the Tiger Stripes team visits the chosen classroom and reads what the teacher wrote about the students. Every student in the class receives a treat.
At the beginning of the school year, every student received a Tiger Stripes wristband. On Wristband Wednesdays, teachers seek out students who exemplify the core values and give them an additional wristband.
This initiative is funded by the BlueHeat Student Passes. Students at DHS can purchase a pass for $40, which grants them access to all fall and spring athletic events, with the exception of playoffs.
In addition to building the character of the students, it will also serve as a tool for discipline by using the core values as a way to educate students on how to change undesirable behavior.
DHS is excited to launch this program and is optimistic about its success. Go Tigers!
