Space Center Implements EarlyAct FirstKnight Program - Oct 16
October 16 at 1:30 pm Faculty Training (one hour): After the show from 3:45-4:45 As many Space Center Rotarians should attend the Faculty Training as possible since they'll learn lots of important info, plus it gives the teachers an opportunity to meet them. Please try to plan a one-hour training event for your Rotarian liaisons that evening.
Future Knighting Ceremonies:
November 15 at 1:00 pm
February 15 at 8:00 am
March 21 at 8:00 am
May 2 at 8:00 am
June 6 at 8:00 am
Space Center Rotarians are excited about this unique service opportunity to work with the students to learn the importance of citizenship, responsibility, self-discipline, confidence, perseverance, respect, honesty, compassion, friendliness, "Service Above Self" in the classroom, justice, loyalty, defense, generosity, courage, faith, humility, nobility, and integrity. In the process, we'll become better individuals, and Rotarians!
More than a student service club participated in by a few, EAFK is a daily, mandatory course of study for each child, starting with the first day of Kindergarten
Sponsored by Rotary Clubs, EarlyAct FirstKnight is a year-round character and service education program for elementary and middle schools that, for the first time ever, puts Rotary into mainstream public education every day.
Jousting, Knighting Ceremonies plus students learn importance of citizenship, responsibility, self-discipline, confidence, perseverance, respect, honesty, compassion, friendliness & more. EVERY school day, EVERY student recites Rotary's 4-Way Test!
The Need For Character Education
Ethical impairment reveals itself through symptoms like dishonesty, irresponsibility, disrespect, hatred, jealousy, greed, and indifference to others. Studies show these attributes are afflicting young people today more than ever before. Ethical impairment also leads to antisocial behaviors and conditions such as crime, poverty, substance abuse, deception, ignorance, dependency, and immorality. EarlyAct FirstKnight (EAFK) program is a proactive strategy that endeavors to prevent many of these potential outcomes before they occur.
Why EarlyAct FirstKnight?
EAFK’s unique approach of teaching ethics to young people creatively integrates the live-action theme of noble knights and chivalry with Rotarian service ideals. Highlighting the exciting theme of knightly champions, EAFK instructs, motivates and equips students to seek high knightly standards and personal excellence, through which they can better serve their communities through knowledge, wisdom and compassion.
Of added benefit to Rotary Clubs, thousands of young parents are discovering Rotary every month at student knighting ceremonies and parent education events. Entire campuses recite the Four Way Test daily by memory, students begin learning who Paul Harris is in the 3rd grade. 5th graders can provide the latest news on Polio Plus, and local communities are benefitting from the Rotarian-led service initiatives of 5 to 12 year-old students.
Objectives
• Rotary's code of ethics integrated into daily classroom curriculum
• Students learn about the life of Paul Harris, PolioPlus, and all other Rotary programs
• Daily, students recite Rotary's Four-Way Test
• Rotarians serve as mentors to the students
• Each teacher selects one student each month to be honored for their exception deeds. Secretly, their parents are notified to attend the knighting ceremony where the student is knighted & receives a special medallion
Activities
• Jousting "Tournament of Champions"
• Daily Classroom Curriculum for teachers
• Monthly Knighting Ceremonies
• Student Service Clubs
• Parent Education
• Meet and honor parents for their student's success
• Opportunity to share Rotary with community
Dr Randall Parr - Founder
EAFK was founded by Dr. Randall Parr, KTJ. A member of the Boerne Rotary Club, Dr. Parr is somewhat of a renaissance man. He has traveled much of the world and earned acclaim in multiple fields, ranging from the entertainment industry as a musical virtuoso and producer to the military ministry as an officer in the United States Naval chaplaincy.
Dr. Parr is an internationally published writer, consultant, and a frequent guest lecturer on character education at Universities and professional conferences.
A life-long student of history’s most influential leaders with over twenty years of experience in creating effective ethics development programs for young people, his service to others has won accolades from many, including all branches of our military, the Washington Times, and members of the U.S. Senate and Congress.
Dr. Parr is a knight of the historic Sovereign Military Order of The Temple of Jerusalem, or Knights Templar.