Begun 10 years ago, Character Counts is an initiative promoting and teaching good character through the curriculum and other activities, said one of the founders, Dr. Robert Freado, principal of McMurray Elementary School.

"Character Counts is community based so it's not exclusively in the schools and that's what makes our initiative more unique than others," Freado said. "There are other forms of Character Counts of education all over the country and as the years have gone by, it's become more common."

Over the past decade, Peters Township schools have earned numerous awards for the program that begins in elementary school and continues through the senior year. Other programs are conducted outside the school environment to promote good character.

"It's recognized as a good community resource," Freado said, "Hundreds of people have played leadership roles and thousands have been touched by the program.

"The purpose is to break down the walls in the cafeteria since that is a very common area that students have social problems," said Shelly Belcher, district spokeswoman. "For our purpose, kids will simply switch their seat in the cafeteria to talk with somebody different for one day. They do not have to sit with a person they have never met. Students simply switch up their usual routine."

The purpose is to encourage kindness and good character. Another program is Pay It FWD, a school-wide activity with an idea to promote random acts of kindness, Belcher added.

Each student will receive a sheet with several cell phone numbers. When a student does a kind deed, the paper will be forwarded with the name of the student on top. They will also write their name on the first text box of the first cell phone.

The act can be offering a tissue, holding a door or lending a pencil. The sheet will be handed to the student for whom the other student helped.

At the end of the week, teachers will collect the sheets and turn them over to the guidance office and be returned to the original owner.

At Peters Township Middle School, each day will have a different color theme, to help spread the importance of good character and reinforce "Eight Habits of Highly Effective People." For example, Wednesday, Oct. 14 the school wears green to help protect the environment. Yellow is Oct. 14 for Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation. And red- or NFL apparel-rules the day on Oct. 16 l in honor of the NFL's play 60 challenge.

The celebration, Freado said, is to thank the community and school for their efforts. The program begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Peters Township Middle School auditorium.

"This is meant as a celebration with music, No Tune Left Behind, and a proclamation from (U.S. Congressman Tim) Murphy (R-Upper St. Clair,) and for the community," Freado said.

McMurray teachers Ray Cygrymus, Dave Difilippo, John Lovett, and Stephen McGough formed No Tune Left Behind. They shot a music video making a stand against bullying on the bus with the help of the entire faculty and staff at McMurray

In 2008, Bower Hill Elementary School was named a National School of Character by The Character Education Partnership (CEP). The school is among 10 schools nationwide to receive this distinguished award.

The school received a $20,000 grant at the 15th National Forum on Character Education

Bower Hill provides many opportunities for collaboration and involvement for families and the community. Volunteers are frequently in the building as mystery readers, indoor recess activity leaders, orientation tour guides, and at numerous special events throughout the year. The Grandfriends program also teaches students to respect others through dedicated seniors who share their time and talents with the youngest generation.

The Peters Township School District is no stranger to the Schools of Character Award. McMurray Elementary (4-6) was named a National School of Character in 2004. In 2006, Pleasant Valley Elementary (K-3) was a finalist for the award, and in 2007 the district was named a finalist for its kindergarten through 8th grade programs (Bower Hill, Pleasant Valley, McMurray and Peters Township Middle School).