EarlyAct First Knight Character Education Program

District 5890 EarlyAct FirstKnight Committee: 
Charlie and Tommie Buscemi
Phone:  281-359-7193 (Office), 713-598-7129 (Cellular)
Email:  tommie5890@suddenlink.net or cjsb@suddenlink.net

Start a LEGACY in your community!  For the FIRST TIME EVER IN ROTARY'S 113 YEAR HISTORY, EarlyAct FirstKnight (EAFK) Academic Character-Building Project that puts Rotary ideals into public and private school classrooms each and every day of school for the entire school-year in 100% of the classrooms of a campus.

20.5 years...with 177 days of school...from the first day of kindergarten to the last day of 5th grade, each student will have recited Rotary's Four-Way Test the equivalent times that a Rotarian does in 20.5 years!   

Above:  Video produced by Georgetown Rotary Club (Texas)


Above:  Video of 300 3rd - 5th grade students during monthly EAFK Knighting Ceremony here in Rotary District 5890.

Sponsored by Rotary Clubs, EarlyAct FirstKnight™ (EAFK) is a year-round social skills, character and service education program for elementary and middle schools that, for the first time ever, puts Rotary into daily mainstream public education.  CLICK HERE to read the "2017-18 EAFK Handbook for Rotarians"

EAFK is unlike any character education program in existence because it works.  EAFK is research-based, and up to 100% of participating campuses experience increased academic performance and decreased student behavioral incidents, some up to 75%. Teachers reclaim valuable teaching time, on average of 45 minutes per day. “Recognized” and “Acceptable” rated schools often become “Exemplary”, and through EAFK parent education, parental participation in campus life is enhanced, as are home relationships.

Designed as a "Legacy Service Project" for the sponsoring Rotary Club, EAFK assimilates into the tapestry of campus life through five integrated components that constantly motivate, teach, reward, apply, and build parental support for high ethical standards and an ethos of “service above self”. Through EAFK, the pursuit of excellent personal character, social skills and service orientation rejoins academic achievement as the measure of a well-rounded education.

Youth Protection:  Rotarians should follow the school district's youth protection policy which will/may require that each member involved with EAFK have the school district do a background check.  Each time a Rotarian visits their EAFK campus, the school's front office will require that a photo ID will be provided.  While EAFK is a "Rotary project" (not an official program of Rotary International) we request that District 5890 Rotary clubs should read, follow and implement Rotary International's Youth Protection Policy - CLICK HERE for a link.

The Virtues of the EAFK Curriculum

The EAFK Curriculum teaches one of character trait with associated social skills each month.  The school selects which trait will be
taught, the order that they will be taught, and the entire campus focuses on that one trait for 4-6 weeks.  The curriculum lessons and reading books are age and grade level appropriate.  CLICK HERE to see a sample 3rd Grade Curriculum. The 12 elementary, and 8 middle school virtues are:

• RESPECT
• HONESTY
• DISCIPLINE
• CONFIDENCE
• RESPONSIBILITY
• TOLERANCE
• PERSEVERANCE
• COMPASSION
• FRIENDLINESS
• SERVICE
• TRUSTWORTHINESS
• CITIZENSHIP
• MIDDLE SCHOOL VIRTUES ARE:
• COURAGE
• DEFENSE
• FAITH (EAFK is non-religious, so these are lessons about faith in yourself, faith that you can accomplish your goals, etc.)
• FRANCHISE
• HUMILITY
• JUSTICE
• LARGESSE
• LOYALTY
• NOBILITY

IS EAFK EFFECTIVE?
100% of the EAFK campuses* report an increase in academic performance, and a decrease in behavior problems/referrals.  EAFK is research-based, meaning that each facet of the program is scientifically evaluated to validate its effectiveness upon student behavior and academic performance at each participating campus.
We also gather data from schools that helps us maintain a strong, positive relationship with administrators, faculty members and parents. With tens of thousands of children now participating in EarlyAct FirstKnight™ daily, all of our schools report student academic performance going up, and discipline problems coming down.  This means that EAFK is making the teacher’s job easier, allowing them more time to do what they do best.

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, and local communities, as well as countries around the world, are benefitting from the Rotarian-led service initiatives of 5 to 12 year-olds.

* Campuses that conduct the full EAFK program properly.

CLICK HERE to read quotes from other educators and for a Contact List of Principals and Superintendents that have EAFK at their campus

TOTAL SATURATION
EAFK is not just a voluntary service program for a few good kids to participate in. Using Rotary’s Four Way Test as a modern code of chivalry, EAFK is a required, curriculum-based course of daily study for each student at every grade level, from Kinder through 8th grade. EAFK is a comprehensive program that is designed to be permanently integrated into the academic agenda and affect the entire culture of participating campuses.

DEVELOPERS
EarlyAct FirstKnight™ was created by former United States Navy chaplain, Randall Parr, who is the Founder and CEO of The Knights of The Guild™. Randall is a Paul Harris Fellow and honorary member of The Rotary Club of Boerne, Texas, which sponsored the first EAFK program in 2006.  Knights of The Guild™ is an educational enterprise of The Randall Parr Organization, Inc., a nonprofit, award-winning developer of character education programs established in 1993. The mission of Knights of The Guild is to help young people develop the social skills and character traits necessary to make good choices and live honorable, service-oriented lives.

EAFK’s unique, multidimensional approach of teaching ethics to kids creatively integrates the live-action theme of gallant knights and chivalry with Rotarian service ideals. Propelled by this exciting genre’ of knightly heroes, EAFK instructs, motivates and equips students to seek the highest ethical standards and personal excellence, through which they can better serve their communities through knowledge, wisdom and compassion.

EAFK SERVICE CLUB - COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL SERVICE PROJECTS
While the academics of EAFK teach children why we serve, the program’s Rotarian-led student service clubs teach them how it’s done.  Members of the Rotary club should attend each meeting. 

Just like Rotary, Interact, and Rotaract clubs, their EAFK Service Club elects officers, has by-laws and a constitution, does service projects, and recites the Four-Way Test.  They meet twice monthly for 30 minutes and their meeting is conducted like a traditional Rotary meeting. At the end of the school year, the EAFK Service Club officers should be invited to their sponsoring Rotary club's weekly meeting, and they will be in charge of running the club meeting. The service club consists of student officers and class reps who identify philanthropic needs, plan solutions, and then direct the entire school in facilitating one local and one global service project per year.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT EAFK FROM A 7^TH GRADE COUNSELOR:
"WOW! Where do I even begin?!? That ceremony was so special! I just wanted to take the time to say thanks so much for honoring students for outstanding character!  I have been a part of character education as a counselor for several years, but I have never seen anything like that! The kids were so excited and you could tell by looking at each of their faces, they felt truly honored and special! I hope this program continues for years to come at Bear Branch as well as spreads throughout the district!  Thank you for supporting such a touching program! Thanks for all you do and for making a difference DAILY in the lives of the students and families at Bear Branch!" Quote from an Humble ISD 7th Grade Counselor whose kindergarten daughter was honored at her school's February 2012 Knighting Ceremony in Kingwood. 

HOW CAN MY ROTARY CLUB START EAFK IN OUR COMMUNITY?
If your Rotary club or elementary school would like an EAFK presentation, please contact Charlie and Tommie Buscemi at 281.359.7193 or via email at tommie5890@suddenlink.net.

IS IT DIFFICULT FOR SCHOOLS TO IMPLEMENT THE EAFK CURRICULUM?
EAFK can be started any month of the school year, although most start either at the beginning of the first or second semester, respectively. There is a training held at the campus for the staff, plus there is also a one-hour training for the Rotarians, usually held the same day.   The EAFK staff will provide an access code to the online curriculum for each grade level, and once the school receives their code, all that the teachers will need to do is log on and follow the simple, 10-minute daily lesson plans.

OUR 16 EAFK CAMPUSES (Over 12,000 students) IN ROTARY DISTRICT 5890:

ALDINE ISD
Willowbrook Rotary Club:  Harris Academy

GALENA PARK ISD
North Shore Rotary Club:  Cimarron Elementary School
North Shore Rotary Club:  Cloverleaf Elementary School
North Shore Rotary Club:  Harvey Brown Elementary School 
North Shore Rotary Club:  North Shore Elementary School

WHARTON ISD
Wharton Rotary Club:  Sivells Elementary School