Chore Challenge

October 03, 2011

Dear Parents,

Character Chore Challenge
This year instead of the Oral Reading Challenge, Benito School is challenging all students to take responsibility for their actions at home, within the community and at school. Our two main goals for the year are to foster Responsibility and Citizenship within our students. Tentatively the Gallagher Centre in Yorkton is booked for June 25, 2012 to be our Completed Chore Challenge Celebration event.

As you may or may not be aware Mr. Salmi is teaching a Character Education program to each class once per cycle. We are aligning our Chore Challenge goals with his program. Thus we are defining responsibility and citizenship in this way:

Responsibility- being accountable for my actions and attitudes, telling the truth and not giving excuses or blaming other people for our actions.

Citizenship- giving back to the community and the country in which I live, being kind and helpful to other people, guiding by example, and being trustworthy and dependable.

In order for students to earn their way to the Gallagher Centre they are all expected to complete a minimum of 6 home chores per day (that being said the chore challenge is only based on a 5 day week thus allowing students to make up missed chores over the weekend- ex. Wednesday night is hockey thus no chores done, but can do them on the weekend to make up for the Wednesday chores). Each chore is equivalent to 1 point and thus students can earn a maximum of 30 points per week. To help create well rounded citizens we would like you to set learning chores, environmental chores and helping self/other chores. Obviously the school cannot define home chores as every household is different and the ability of every child is different, thus we have brainstormed a list of possible chores under each category and have attached a sample chore list to hopefully clarify things.

Learning Chores Environmental Chores Self/ Other Chores
unpack backpack taking out the garbage helping grandparents
independently start homework unpack lunch kit entertaining a sibling
independently do homework washing dishes helping parent(s)
show agenda to parents hanging up coat visiting the elderly
get parent signature in agenda putting shoes away taking care of pets
silently read pick up toys volunteer work
practise Math Facts clean bedroom brush teeth of own will
independently pack backpack loading the dishwasher flossing teeth
study for tests haul wood befriending a new person
organize notebooks cut grass help sibling with homework


Sample Chore Log
Student Chores: Mon. Tues. Weds. Thurs Fri.
Learning Chores
-independently unpack backpack     
-unpack agenda book for parent to read and sign     
Environmental Chores
-make my bed     
-load dishwasher     
Helping Others Chores
-help Mom make supper     
-read a story to my brother     

TOTAL Chores completed: 30
Parent Signature: Patti Hack

We are setting our Chore Challenge Goal at 1000 Points! That being said there are 33 weeks left to this school year -thus 30 points/week X 33 weeks= 990 points! - WAIT you say “that doesn’t work”! Oh yes……..… I forgot to share one more bit- students can and will earn bonus points at school for being responsible citizens (for example: helping younger students at recesses and noon, always having their agenda with them and signed, doing their classroom chores, helping substitute teachers with routines, following school rules, or any of the other many things that they do as responsible citizens within our school).

The Character Chore Challenge will begin on Monday, October 03, 2011 and will conclude on June 16, 2012. Please do not re-invent the wheel, if you child already has responsibilities at home- then log those chores—and yes they can do the same chores week after week after week! Please complete chore lists weekly and send back to school on Monday of each week. If you require any other information or clarification please do not hesitate to contact the office.

Sincerely,


Patti Hack
Principal, Benito School












Character Chore Challenge
6 CHORES A DAY AT LEAST 5 DAYS A WEEK AND EARN A TRIP TO THE GALLAGHER CENTER IN JUNE



__________________ ‘s Chore Log

Student Chores: Mon. Tues. Weds. Thurs Fri.
Learning Chores
-
-
Environmental Chores
-
-
Helping Self/ Others Chores
-
-
TOTAL Chores completed: _________
Parent Signature: ___________________________________