What is character development?
"Character development is the deliberate effort to nurture the universal attributes upon which schools and communities find consensus. These attributes provide a standard for behaviour against which we hold ourselves accountable. They permeate all that happens in schools. They bind us together across the lines that often divide us in society. They form the basis of our relationships and of responsible citizenship. They are a foundation for excellence and equity in education, and for our vision of learning cultures and school communities that are respectful, safe, caring and inclusive. Excellence in education includes character development. Through character, we find common ground." (Finding Common Ground; Character Development in Ontario Schools, K-12, 2008 
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Tribes at Pierre Berton P.S.
The Pierre Berton P.S. Touchstone
A touchstone incorporates a set of shared values, beliefs and aspirations for all members of the school community. It can be quite powerful in building community as people tend to feel more connected when joined by common values. With input from the School Council, and all of our students and staff, members of our Student Leadership Team worked hard to take the ideas of all to write our Touchstone. We were fortunate to have the assistance of Mr. Birenbaum, Vice-Principal of Forest Run P.S., to guide us through the process. The students took the ideas gathered by all stakeholders and identified the main ideas. Then, they put them together to form the Touchstone. The final product was quite impressive. Our goal is to infuse the values of the touchstone within the school community.
