CMDS Introduces Pillars Encore Class

The CMDS Mission Statement highlights four pillars of student development: academic excellence, spiritual development, social responsibility and personal integrity. Newly formed in 2022, the Pillars Encore class focuses on the third and fourth pillars directly. CMDS seeks to instill in our students a desire for servant leadership as well as the ability to understand themselves, their peers and the world around them. By weaving these concepts into the curriculum and daily experience, our students are able to build and develop their abilities in the areas of social responsibility and personal integrity.

Students in 1st-6th grade attend Pillars. Courtney Green, David Vaughn and Brittany Carmichael-Hayes teach the class on a weekly rotation. Here, they describe their individual course sections.

Courtney Green, Guidance Counselor

Courtney Green, Guidance Counselor

As the guidance counselor at CMDS, my goal is to provide individual, group, and classroom guidance so I can meet the needs of all students. During my Pillars class, I offer the social and emotional learning that is important for students to develop. I love that our mission statement is reflected through Pillars and we are able to develop deeper relationships with the students. Since this is my first year working at CMDS, it has been a wonderful opportunity to form those relationships.

Each month, I will be covering a different topic that reaches the students socially and emotionally. The topics that I have already covered are empathy and academic/test taking skills. Some other topics that I will be covering throughout the year are gratitude, generosity, feelings, coping skills, kindness, career, safety, and conflict resolution. I designed my lessons to cover a subtopic for each grade so that every year the students can gain something different from the broader topic. For example, in September, I went over academic and test taking skills with each grade. Each grade had a different subtopic that we discussed:

  • 1st grade: Self-control

  • 2nd grade: Different learning styles

  • 3rd grade: Growth mindset

  • 4th grade: Responsibility

  • 5th and 6th: Test taking prep for standardized tests

My goal is to equip our students with these skills so they have a firm foundation when it comes time to leave CMDS.

David Vaughn, Dean of Students

David Vaughn, Dean of Students

In Pillars class we have focused on what we do when no one is looking, which coincides with our personal integrity pillar at CMDS. Our first habit – "You're in charge" – focuses on recognizing that we each control our actions, moods, and attitudes.

Throughout the school year, students will work their way through the 7-Habits of a good leader. 

  • Habit 1: Be Proactive (You're in charge)

  • Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind (Have a Plan)

  • Habit 3: Put First Things First (Work First, Then Play)

  • Habit 4: Think Win-Win (Everyone Can Win)

  • Habit 5: Seek to Understand, Then to be Understood (Listen Before You Talk)

  • Habit 6: Work as a Team (Together is Better)

  • Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw (Balance Feels Best)

Brittany Carmichael-Hayes, Diversity and Belonging Coordinator

Brittany Carmichael-Hayes, Diversity and Belonging Coordinator

One of the goals of Pillars class is for students to understand themselves, their peers, and the world around them. To meet these goals, I am currently covering understanding and accepting differences. We are taking a deep dive into the definition of diversity, discovering that it encompasses differences in age, race, culture and even abilities. The Judgmental Flower by Julia Cook (1st-3rd grade) and Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester (4th-6th grade) are some of the books we have read.

We recently finished our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Students had the chance to explore the wonders of Guatemala while creating crafts and trying new foods. On September 28th, New Ballet Ensemble performed ¡José! for our school community. The show, based on the life and work of the great modern dance master José Limón, presented a variety of dance, music, and art genres from this era in history.

In the future, my topics will include “Don't Judge a Book: Discovering Stereotypes and their Damages” and “A World of Wonders: Celebrating Diversity in Our Abilities.” We will also celebrate those special months in between (Native American Heritage, Holidays Around the World, Black History Month, etc.)

Pillars is a valuable Encore because it broadens our students' perspectives. We are normalizing and embracing the world around us and understanding the value that each of us bring with our individual gifts and talents. Our students are becoming more knowledgeable of their responsibilities as a follower of Christ and how this positively impacts our world. 

Jessica Waters