MESMS Character Building Initiative Features Haifa Bint-Kadi

Ms. Bint-Kadi, a mosaic and teaching artist affiliated with the Westchester Arts Council, worked with Mildred E. Strang Middle School students in dramatic and purposeful role-playing that explored discrimination and harassment. Ms. Bint-Kadi's residency was a key component of the Middle School community building and character education program.

The Middle School has been working with the Grace Foundation and PBIS, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, to give students the opportunity to share and show off how to make positive decisions, build character and to prevent bullying.

Ms. Bint-Kadi conducted interactive workshop building characters with the middle schoolers. Sixth grade students spent time role playing dramatic scenarios in an in an interactive workshop where some actors were left out, mistreated, ignored or left behind. The “awes” in the crowd supported their own empathy with the events and their claps and cheers supported the actors as they found positive solutions.

The Mildred Strang School has devoted the year to bully prevention and building character. This event was one part of a larger program that recognizes students for just being kind and thoughtful. It is a student generated program and it incorporates public service announcements, student videos and scholarships.