Brilla Builds Character

We all want our children to be honest and caring and courageous. We want them to respect others who may be different. We want them to become responsible adults capable of making good decisions in their lives. We want them to care about their families, communities, and themselves. And we want them to flourish in whatever career they choose. 

As any parent knows, these things do not just happen automatically. Children learn how to act by observing the example of influential adults, by reflecting on their own personal experiences, and through direct instruction. That’s why character education at Brilla is not a one-class-a-week elective. It is at the heart of everything we do. 

Beginning in Kindergarten, teachers in every subject area use stories and discussions to explore virtues and encourage students to reflect on their actions and decisions. 

We also include families in every aspect of our character approach. For example, we make sure on bulletin boards and in emails that parents know the Virtue of the Week so they can explore its importance at home. 

We have designed our school schedule with many opportunities to learn about virtue and good character traits: Bird Call, Morning Meeting, Recess, daily classes in Character Studies and Social-Emotional Learning, Community Circle, Celebrations, and the wildly-popular weekly Roosting Rallies.