For the Westbury School District, Respect Day is Oct. 4, but teachers and librarians will continue to emphasize "character education" throughout the school year, Superintendent Clark said at the Board of Education Action Meeting last Wednesday.

Each of the six schools in the district will participate in different activities on Oct. 4, but all will focus on a central theme--respect. The day-long celebration will include school-wide assemblies, hands-on activities, and lessons from literature that relate to this theme.

Guest speakers representing various careers, have been invited to each of the schools to address students about what respect means to them. At Drexel Avenue School, Senator Michael A. Balboni will be a keynote speaker. Classroom guest speakers include State Assembly Member Maureen O'Connell, Town Clerk Linda Green, Peter Grupe from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and author Kerry Daniels.

The Reverend Al Sharpton will be the keynote speaker at Powell's Lane School. Mayor Ernest J. Strada, Martin McMorrow from the Environmental Protection Agency, and Delores Seducca, former mayor of East Williston, head the list of classroom guest speakers. Additionally, two assembly programs presented by the Harlem Wizzards, a basketball team that has been entertaining and educating children for 37 years, will incorporate the theme of respect.

Respect is only one of the virtues administrators, teachers and librarians hope to instill in Westbury students in the upcoming school year. "Caring, honesty, fairness and responsibility are equally important as test scores and academic performance," said Dr. William K. Lloyd, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

"Character education is not an add-on," he explained. "It is an integral part of the curriculum. These values are incorporated into social studies, science, math and reading lessons. Every month, librarians in each school in the district will focus on one of these virtues and include it in their regular curriculum."

Patricia Matarazzo, Drexel Avenue School librarian, and Linda Jackalone, Powell's Lane School librarian, gave a brief demonstration at the Board of Ed meeting to show how character education can be effectively taught in schools. Seven students from Drexel Avenue and Powell's Lane participated in an introductory lesson on the theme of respect. With Ms. Matarazzo and Ms. Jackalone's help, students narrowed down the aim of the lesson, brainstormed about the meaning of respect, and chose a graphic organizer to collect their numerous ideas on the subject.

"Research shows that focusing on student emotional intelligence is directly linked to higher student achievement," Matarazzo said. "Better character development leads to better students." She continued, "Any effective character education program must include direct instruction, good leadership, a process for implementing values and evaluating their expression, reinforcement and support, as well as staff and parent involvement. Our collaborative library and school program parallels today's successful character education programs. These promote strong values that are universally accepted in all cultures as the basis of human decency."

"Character education is taught through role playing, journal writing, educational videos, hands-on projects, student generated lessons, community involvement, family involvement and a variety of thought-provoking lessons that encourage critical thinking skills and inspire creativity," Jackalone said. She explained that a monthly newsletter will promote family involvement by encouraging input and the sharing of accomplishments. Additionally, "Let's Communicate" workshops will be offered throughout the year. These workshops will aim to educate parents about the qualities that make for better students.

"Our ultimate goal," Jackalone said, "is to help our young people practice acts of virtue until the acts become daily habits."

The next Board of Education Action meeting will be held Oct. 20 at 8:00 p.m. at the high school.

For information about how to get involved in Respect Day call 876-5016.