Along with parents and community members, schools play an important role in modeling and reinforcing essential values and preparing students to be productive and contributing citizens. In partnership with parents and communities, SEMS reinforces certain values in every child, including:

• Respect – treating themselves and others with courtesy, dignity and positive regard, honoring the rights of others, and treating people’s belongings, our environment, and the world around us with consideration.

• Responsibility – being accountable for their actions and following through on their commitments.

• Honesty – behaving in a sincere, trustworthy and truthful manner.

• Empathy – appreciating the emotions of others, demonstrating concern for their feelings, and trying to understand issues from others’ perspectives even though they may not agree with them personally.

• Fairness – being sensitive to the needs of each individual, treating others as they wish to be treated themselves, interacting with others without stereotyping, prejudice or discrimination, and standing up for human rights.

• Initiative – acting without the need to be prompted by others, eager to do what needs to be done and ready to take the first step in achieving a goal.

• Perseverance – sticking to a goal and working hard even in the face of obstacles and challenges.

• Courage – facing challenges directly, seeking help from others when it’s needed, doing the right thing even when it’s unpopular, recognizing risks and danger and making wise choices.

• Integrity – ensuring truthfulness, sincerity and consistency in what they believe, what they say and how they behave.

• Optimism – maintaining a positive attitude, looking on the brighter side, seeing opportunities in the face of adversity, and having hope for the future.