Lake Riviera Named National School of Character

The Character Education Partnership has named Brick's Lake Riviera Middle School a 2011 National School of Character, making it the only school in Ocean County to receive the award.

This is the first time the school has achieved National School of Character status, the second time the school has become a national finalist, and the third time the school has been recognized by CEP as a State School of Character.  Lake Riviera is one of 43 schools and 1 school district among 30 participating states being recognized nationwide in 2011.

The award is the culmination of more than a decade of work, which began in 1999 when former principal Susan MacNamara began working on introducing character education – teaching students values and respect alongside their regular lessons – to the school.

"Since that point, we have infused character education into our daily life at Lake Riviera Middle School," said Janet Czarnecki, the school's assistant principal.

Through the program, which has been phased in over the years, students are taught about morals, respecting each other and anti-bullying lessons that are infused in the traditional curriculum, Czarnecki said.

"We don’t teach character ed in isolation. It’s a life skill," she said.

From the view of a once-outsider, new principal Alyce Anderson said she picked up on the culture of good moral character as soon as she began working at Lake Riviera.

"As a new principal coming it, it’s amazing and it’s definable," she said. "We have substitutes who come in and say, 'I love your school, the kids are so respectful and so kind to one another.'"

"As a new principal coming from another school in Brick, you can feel it in the hallways and observe the tone and the respect for one another," said Anderson. "As an outsider looking in, I can see what a difference a sustained program has made."

The numbers back up the praise. Czarnecki said the percentage of students who are disciplined through detentions and suspensions has been cut in half since the program was started. At one time, she said, nearly 20 percent of students were being disciplined. Now it's down to about 10 percent.

"It’s taken a while, but it’s systemic," Czarnecki said. "Now, the key is to keep it going and sustain the culture of the building."

But even as the hard work continues, school officials will be able to celebrate their achievement. Lake Riviera will receive an National School of Character award at a ceremony next October, a banner, and a check for $1,000.