HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE RUDY AWARD PROGRAM IN YOUR SCHOOL

There are several natural places where the RUDY AWARDS ^TM Program fits well into the present Middle School curriculum. No matter how a school decides to use the RUDY AWARDS ^TM Program, it will soon become a mainstay of the school's educational process. Middle schools are increasingly including programs of character education in their curriculum. This is a time in life when students are starting to view themselves as part of a larger world around them. But that larger world seems muddled and confusing to them, and more and more they are becoming rudderless, lacking direction and concrete means of fulfillment.

The middle school curriculum is becoming so crowded with facts and procedures that there is little time for teachers to sit back and dwell on the student as a whole. Plenty of information is passed on, but little concern is given to each student's self-esteem. There is so much pressure on schools to cram material into the day that there is no room for watchful evaluation. Meanwhile, students have no opportunity for that much-needed quiet self-reflection - Where am I going? - How do I get there? - Why am I doing it?

To fit these important self-evaluation questions into their jam-packed curriculum, educators are looking for new answers to old, strict curricular structures. The RUDY AWARDS ^TM Program provides an exciting platform to raise these types of questions in an invigorating environment. Here are several natural places where the RUDY AWARDS ^TM Program can fit into the present middle school curriculum.

*  The Reading Curriculum

Since the RUDY AWARDS ^TM Program includes a book appropriate for each grade level, the Program fits easily into the reading curriculum. Communications skills and creativity are emphasized in a reading program, and these attributes are stressed in the RUDY AWARDS ^TM Program. Several times per week teachers can have their students read an excerpt from the book and then raise questions based on that reading from the student workbook. Each question is self-reflective, encouraging students to reach deep into their heart and soul for poignant responses.

*  Citizenship, Life-Skills and Religion Curriculum

There is a big push across the country to teach virtues and values. In non-secular schools the curriculum is called Citizenship or Life-Skills. In faith-based schools similar attributes are taught in religion classes. There is an emphasis on social skills and responsibility. Students learn the meaning of character, integrity and respect for self and others. The RUDY AWARDS ^TM Program is based on these values. They are the foundation for the Program. Thus they provide a concrete avenue to reach students and teach them these principles.

*  The Health and Physical Education Curriculum

The emphasis in this type of curriculum is shifting from the purely physical aspects of a child's life to include mental aspects as well. More and more, materials are being presented to help the emotional side of students' lives. They teach students how to overcome obstacles, both physical and mental. They teach students to build on their strengths while recognizing and shoring up their weaknesses. The RUDY AWARDS ^TM Program is the perfect vehicle to raise these issues in class since it is based on boosting the self-esteem and fulfillment of students.

The program has also been successful as a part of a student advisory period such as homeroom or an explorations class which provides a constructive way to use this time to inspire the children è our future leaders of America è to greatness. To help them become better citizens and our communities better places in which to live! In short, the RUDY AWARDS ^TM Program is a program that helps students reach their full potential through character education.

A short in-service or faculty meeting can be scheduled to distribute the information, provided by the Rudy Foundation, to the teachers and program facilitators to get the program started and form the ¿Official Selection Committeeî who will choose the finalist from the school.

*  LONG TERM RUDY AWARD PROGRAM GOALS:

As RAP grows and develops The Rudy Foundation will interface a community interaction program with the classroom program. The students will be able to apply the information learned in the classroom immediately in a real life situation to assist them in incorporating these lessons into their lives everyday to help them develop self-esteem and become positive role models for other children and families across the nation.