Nurturing Star Qualities: Starting the Year with Intention

As we step into a new school year, I find myself reflecting on my time as a classroom teacher at a vibrant elementary school in Woodbridge, Virginia. It was a truly special place. It had incredibly dedicated educators and engaged students, as well as a culture of character it fostered through something called Star Qualities.

Star Qualities were part of our school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system. These weren’t just nice words on a bulletin board—they were the heart of our community. The Star Qualities were:

Star Quality Ticket

• Courteous

• Compassionate

• Responsible

• Respectful

• Honest

• Perseverance

• Cooperative

• Patience

• Courageous

• Humorous
  

Each week, teachers across all grades (Kindergarten through 8th) intentionally taught these values through lessons, stories, class discussions, and by modeling them in action. Then, we actively recognized these traits in our students. This is what made the Star Qualities so powerful and effective.

When a student demonstrated a Star Quality, they earned a Star Quality ticket (see below). They circled Star Quality they had demonstrated on the front and then wrote their name and what they did to earn the ticket on the back. This strategy helped students pause to reflect on their positive behavior and showed others that their good behavior had been recognized. At the end of the week, each class would hold a drawing to celebrate one or two recipients. Then, all of the tickets would be sent to the principal, who would randomly choose one Star from each grade for school-wide recognition.

The magic didn’t stop there. Students were also encouraged to notice and nurture Star Qualities in one another. They reported acts of kindness, courage, or patience to their teachers, lifting each other up in ways that created a powerful, supportive school culture. It brought our whole school together.

As this school year begins, I encourage parents, educators, and caregivers to think intentionally about what Star Qualities you want to nurture in your children. Whether your child is starting Kindergarten or heading into middle school, this is a perfect time to reflect on the values that matter most. Teach them. Model them. Praise them when you see them. When we focus on character alongside academics, we not only raise kind, capable children, we also create communities that thrive.