Core values make up the fabric of new Park Promise

At Park Avenue Elementary School, young learners promise every day to make a positive difference in their school community. The new Park Promise is based on the North Bellmore School District’s core values and was introduced to students at a welcome back assembly with Principal Michael DeBlasio.

“I want to give our children avenues to be problem-solvers,” he said, adding that if a student struggles to keep the Park Promise, they have the tools to forgive themselves, self-reflect and make a good choice.

The six tenets of the Park Promise are: be an upstander when someone needs help, respect all individuals at Park Avenue School, encourage others to be their very best, give compliments and lift others up, make great choices every day and accept and appreciate others and their differences.

DeBlasio said the goal is to create a school climate where students feel loved, included, supported and welcomed, all of which leads to a learning environment where they can be successful. He also wants students to use their voice by going above and beyond the Park Promise and making their own promises that help achieve this vision.

The Park Promise, he explained, was created with input from teachers and uses common language across all grade levels. While some character education programs are rewards-based, Mr. DeBlasio noted that Park Avenue’s initiative is based on the premise that students and staff want to unite to make the school the best place possible.

“The reward is being a good person,” he said. “The Park Promise is bigger than earning an award or a reward. And it lives everywhere throughout our school community.”