Paterson Charter School for Science & Technology

Elementary Campus
276 Wabash Avenue Paterson, NJ 07503 Phone: 973-345-4400 Fax: 973-345-4636


Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology Elementary Positive School
Climate Program
Objective: Through promoting bucket filling words and actions students,
teachers, and staff will create a positively enforced environment that will reflect
our school motto, We are here to learn and be good citizens.
Overview: The program will focus on a story weve read called Have You
Filled a Bucket Today? This book emphasizes that everyone carries an invisible
bucket and we fill up or dip into each others buckets depending on what we
say and do. Our school goal is to be bucket fillers, not bucket dippers.
Every time we fill a bucket, our bucket gets filled too. Bucket fillers are those who
help without being asked, give compliments and generally spread positive
feelings to others. If you dip into another persons bucket then you dip into your
bucket as well. Bucket dippers would be those who rob us of happy feelings by
saying or doing cruel things.
In addition to Bucket Filling, each month from September through June
will be themed based on the Pillars of Character. The first step to teaching any
new character trait is simply to emphasize it to students. When everyone is
reinforcing and modeling the same trait, students are more likely to learn that
character traiit. On the first school day of each month a character trait will be
introduced over the morning announcements. The speaker will announce the
trait, define it and give relative examples, and provide a weekly quote that
reflects that goes along with the theme.
Example: Good morning students. Happy October! The theme for
October is respect. Respect is how you feel about someone and how you treat
them. Having respect for someone means you think good things about who a
person is or how he/she acts. You can have respect for others, and you can
have respect for yourself. Showing respect to someone means you act in a way
that shows you care about their feelings and well-being. You are respectful
when you follow your parents rules to show you care about how they feel. You
show respect when you are quiet in a library to show you care about others
needs. You show respect when you listen teachers and cooperate in class. This
month I challenge you to respect your friends, your family, your teachers, and
yourselves. I leave you with this weeks quote,
You should respect each other and refrain from disputes; you should not,
like water and oil, repel each other, but should, like milk and water, mingle
together.
Implementing the plan: Structure and roles
Daily: Students have the opportunity to earn as many bucket filler tickets
as possible each day.
Weekly: Each week a student from each homeroom in grades K-3 is
chosen as Bucket Filler of the Week. The counselor will randomly pick a ticket
from each homeroom bucket.
Students will be introduced to a quote each week based on the months theme.
Monthly: At the end of each month, two classes (one from grades K-3 and
one class from grades 4-6) with the most Bucket Filler Tickets will be chosen
rewarded (i.e. free tag day, pizza party, popcorn party etc.)
Each month will have a different theme based on the pillars of character.
The character trait of the month will be emphasized and defined, identified in
class lessons, and learned through school activities.
K-3: Students will be introduced to the concept of bucket filling through a
class lesson given by the counselor. Each class will be given a bucket that will
remain in the classroom. When the teacher catches a student doing a kind act
and filling someone elses bucket The student will receive a bucket filler ticket
that will be placed in the classs bucket. Each week, a name will be picked from
each classs bucket and the student will be selected to be bucket filler of the
week. At the end of the month the counselor will collect the buckets and
reward the class that has the most bucket filler tickets.
4-6: Students will be introduced to the concept of bucket filling through a
class lesson given by the counselor. Each homeroom will have a bucket that will
be located under a bulletin board near the front entrance of the building. Every
Monday a student from each class section will be selected to be Bucket filler of
the Week. A name will be drawn from each homerooms bucket by the
counselor and the student selected will be announced on the morning
announcements and receive a small reward.
Each homeroom will compete to have the most bucket filler tickets at
the end of every month. One homeroom with the highest amount of tickets from
each grade will be selected. The winners will be announced on the morning
announcements and be rewarded with a prize for the whole class. This may be
a free tag day, pizza party, ice cream etc.
Teachers/ Staff Role: When a teacher or staff member catches a student
saying or doing a kind act, the student is rewarded with a bucket filler ticket.
The student then brings the ticket to the counselors office on their free time (i.e.
before lunch, in between classes, at dismissal). The counselor will put the ticket in
the students homerooms bucket. The buckets will be located on the bulletin
board in the front entrance of the building.



















Bucket Filling Teachers Guide
A student can be rewarded for positive actions and kindness through receiving
a Bucket Filler Ticket. Each Bucket Filler Ticket earned reinforces positive
behavior, gives the student a chance to win a weekly prize, and encourages
students to work together as a class to fill the most buckets.
Kindergarten- 3
rd
Grade
1. Student is recognized for positive behavior.
2. Teacher prints name and BRIEF description of the behavior on the ticket.
3. The student is given the ticket and puts it in the class bucket.
4. Each Monday, one students name from each homeroom will be selected
as Bucket Filler of the Week. The counselor will come into each
classroom and pull a name from the bucket.
5. Each month one class from K-3 with the most tickets earned will be
selected and rewarded.
Grades 4-6
1. Student is recognized for positive behavior.
2. Teacher prints name and BRIEF description of the behavior on the ticket.
3. The student is given the ticket and is to bring it to the counselors office on
their time (i.e. before homeroom, in between classes, before lunch,
dismissal etc.)
4. Each Monday, one students name from each homeroom will be selected
as Bucket Filler of the Week.
5. Each month one class from grades 4-6 with the most tickets earned will be
selected and rewarded.







Monthly Themes
Each month a character pillar theme will be introduced.
When a student is caught displaying the months theme, they receive 2 bucket
filler tickets.
Character Education Monthly Themes
Month Value Activities

September Welcome Yojo Anti-Bullying
Assembly
October Respect Week of Respect

November Citizenship Career Week

December Gratitude Canned Food Drive

January Responsibility College Week

February Trustworthiness TBD

March Fairness
TBD
April Caring Earth Day Activities

May Perseverance

NJASK assembly
June Friendship

TBD