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Character-building project draws a crowd for stories
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| Staff photo by Rasmieyh Abdelnabi The Even Start Dancers performed at the first Storyfest held at the Eclipise Center on Saturday. The event was put together by Character Counts!, a community group geared toward teaching children about character-building skills; such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. |
By Rasmieyh Abdelnabi
Daily News staff writer
The Stateline Area's first Storyfest was met with overwhelming support from the community.
“It's a great turnout,” said McLenegan Elementary School Principal Robert Pickett. “It's very exciting. We didn't know what to expect.”
Storyfest was held on Saturday at the Eclipse Center. A community group called “Character Counts!” organized the event. Pickett is a member of the group, which is made up of community leaders from the Stateline Area. Character Counts! helps in teaching children about good morals through the structure of six pillars: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
The main attraction was the storytelling. Don Falkos, a professional storyteller from Madison, told stories as children and their parents listened while sitting on tables in front of the stage.
Speaking on overcoming adversity was Beloiter Paris Echoles. Echoles' father was killed when he was three years old, leaving his mother to care for him and his two siblings. He is currently at the University of Wisconsin in Madison studying education. He hopes to come back to Beloit and teach. But Echoles would like to eventually further his education and go into education administration.
He told the children in the audience they could achieve great things in their life no matter their backgrounds, but they have to want to do it and follow through. Never think anything is impossible to accomplish and don't listen to naysayers, Echoles said.
Next to speak was Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth, who adopted an Iraqi boy with cerebral palsy. In September 2003, Southworth arrived in Iraq with the Wisconsin National Guard 32nd Military Police Company for a 14-month tour of Iraq. He explained their mission was to “professionalize” the Iraqi police service.
While there the officers of the company volunteered at an orphanage for disabled children. Southworth spent his time with a boy named Aladdin, nicknamed Ala'a. To his face, Ala'a called Southworth Capt. Scott, but to others he referred to him as “Baba,” or dad in Arabic.
It took about two and half years and countless roadblocks, but Southworth was eventually able to adopt Ala'a and bring him to the United States.
Southworth told the children that before deciding to adopt Ala'a, he gave himself many reasons as to why it wouldn't work: He was young, not married, didn't have a lot of money or a home fit for a child. But he realized they were all excuses.
School officials were happy with the success of the event.
Chris Wesling, executive director of pupil services for the School District of Beloit, said she was impressed with the event and the turnout.
“I think it's a great thing for the kids and it brings the community together,” she explained.
Character building is basic to human development, Wesling said.
“It's something all of us should be doing all the time. It's a way of life,” she explained. “It's teaching (children) how to be good human beings, that's basic for everyone. All the things they're going to be is going be secondary to who they are.”
School board member John Acomb said the turnout at the first Storyfest speaks to the importance of character building in the community.
“We typically don't find opportunities to focus on this interest,” he said. “It's exciting. It's the first one. We know there are a lot of other events in the community, it's a nice day, but people are still coming here and enjoying themselves.”
Assistant Principal Charon Cal of Beloit Memorial High School came with her husband Michael and children, Adian, 3, and Amanda, 2. She came in part to support the event and recognize the importance of building character in children, but she also came to expose her children to the things being taught.
“This is something that they should see,” she explained. “I wanted them to see these are qualities worth striving for.”
Rachel Patete, PTA president at Gaston Elementary School, came with her family. Her husband Joe Patete, manned the Boys Scout booth. A number of community groups had booths at Storyfest.
“We really didn't know what was involved here, but in coming here, seeing the diversity in families,” she said. “It's nice to see this many families come out today.”
Patete said she hopes children attending the event go away from it having learned something. This is a good medium for children to learn because the message isn't being preached to them.
“We want our kids to be trustworthy,” she explained. “We want to teach them to have respect.”
‘Character Awards' for students
At this year's Storyfest, the following students were given “Character Awards.”
Ashley Holloway of Burge Elementary
Ketxia Pelaez of Royce Elementary
Benjamin Alex-Austin of Converse Elementary
Katie Parsons of Morgan Elementary School
Reyna Ortega of Cunningham Elementary School
Gwen Ford of Todd Elementary School
Reece Halley of Gaston Elementary School
Paola Sanchez of Wright Elementary School
Brenda Hernandez of Hackett Elementary School
Joshua Winslow of Merrill Elementary School
Eric Ericson of McLenegan Elementary School
Jada Turner of Robinson Elementary School
Amber Forte of McNeel Middle School
Pamela Parish of McNeel Middle School
Demetrius Walker of Aldrich Middle School
Javier Sanchez of Aldrich Middle School
Samantha Kinzer of Beloit Memorial High School
Joshua Draeving of Beloit Memorial High School
“It's a great turnout,” said McLenegan Elementary School Principal Robert Pickett. “It's very exciting. We didn't know what to expect.”
Storyfest was held on Saturday at the Eclipse Center. A community group called “Character Counts!” organized the event. Pickett is a member of the group, which is made up of community leaders from the Stateline Area. Character Counts! helps in teaching children about good morals through the structure of six pillars: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
The main attraction was the storytelling. Don Falkos, a professional storyteller from Madison, told stories as children and their parents listened while sitting on tables in front of the stage.
Speaking on overcoming adversity was Beloiter Paris Echoles. Echoles' father was killed when he was three years old, leaving his mother to care for him and his two siblings. He is currently at the University of Wisconsin in Madison studying education. He hopes to come back to Beloit and teach. But Echoles would like to eventually further his education and go into education administration.
He told the children in the audience they could achieve great things in their life no matter their backgrounds, but they have to want to do it and follow through. Never think anything is impossible to accomplish and don't listen to naysayers, Echoles said.
Next to speak was Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth, who adopted an Iraqi boy with cerebral palsy. In September 2003, Southworth arrived in Iraq with the Wisconsin National Guard 32nd Military Police Company for a 14-month tour of Iraq. He explained their mission was to “professionalize” the Iraqi police service.
While there the officers of the company volunteered at an orphanage for disabled children. Southworth spent his time with a boy named Aladdin, nicknamed Ala'a. To his face, Ala'a called Southworth Capt. Scott, but to others he referred to him as “Baba,” or dad in Arabic.
It took about two and half years and countless roadblocks, but Southworth was eventually able to adopt Ala'a and bring him to the United States.
Southworth told the children that before deciding to adopt Ala'a, he gave himself many reasons as to why it wouldn't work: He was young, not married, didn't have a lot of money or a home fit for a child. But he realized they were all excuses.
School officials were happy with the success of the event.
Chris Wesling, executive director of pupil services for the School District of Beloit, said she was impressed with the event and the turnout.
“I think it's a great thing for the kids and it brings the community together,” she explained.
Character building is basic to human development, Wesling said.
“It's something all of us should be doing all the time. It's a way of life,” she explained. “It's teaching (children) how to be good human beings, that's basic for everyone. All the things they're going to be is going be secondary to who they are.”
School board member John Acomb said the turnout at the first Storyfest speaks to the importance of character building in the community.
“We typically don't find opportunities to focus on this interest,” he said. “It's exciting. It's the first one. We know there are a lot of other events in the community, it's a nice day, but people are still coming here and enjoying themselves.”
Assistant Principal Charon Cal of Beloit Memorial High School came with her husband Michael and children, Adian, 3, and Amanda, 2. She came in part to support the event and recognize the importance of building character in children, but she also came to expose her children to the things being taught.
“This is something that they should see,” she explained. “I wanted them to see these are qualities worth striving for.”
Rachel Patete, PTA president at Gaston Elementary School, came with her family. Her husband Joe Patete, manned the Boys Scout booth. A number of community groups had booths at Storyfest.
“We really didn't know what was involved here, but in coming here, seeing the diversity in families,” she said. “It's nice to see this many families come out today.”
Patete said she hopes children attending the event go away from it having learned something. This is a good medium for children to learn because the message isn't being preached to them.
“We want our kids to be trustworthy,” she explained. “We want to teach them to have respect.”
‘Character Awards' for students
At this year's Storyfest, the following students were given “Character Awards.”
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