Van Schaick Grade School and principal honored as "Champions of Character"

Cohoes Mayor John McDonald III, left, Van Schaick Grade School Principal Jacqueline DeChiaro and Superintendent of School Charles S. Dedrick stand together after DeChiaro was given her award. (Photo by Sharon Aitchison.)

Van Schaick Grade School and its Principal Jacqueline DeChiaro were honored on Wednesday, March 12, at The Academy for Character Education at the Sage Colleges' annual "Champions of Character" Awards Banquet.

The school was recognized for its "Promising Practices in Character Education" and DeChiaro was given the "School Administrator Leadership Award" for her leadership and implementation of the Character Education program.

Cohoes City School District Superintendent of Schools Charles S. Dedrick and Cohoes Mayor John McDonald III presented DeChiaro with her award.

"I am proud of Ms. DeChiaro's work to make Van Schaick Grade School a place where students recognize the importance of character education and are learning to give back to their community," Dedrick said.

This year, students at Van Schaick have been using the character traits they have learned to help others in need. Projects include: making bookmarks for elderly neighbors, collecting food during the holidays, walking in the Juvenile Diabetes Walk, making care packages for soldiers in Iraq, cleaning the school and school grounds, planting flowers in a nearby park and participating in a special Veterans Day event, "Bring a Vet to School Day."

"I am honored that the Van Schaick staff would nominate me for this award and am surprised to have been chosen," said DeChiaro. "One of my goals as an administrator is to make Van Schaick a place where students understand the value of helping others in small ways everyday and through larger projects that affect the community. Children are always encouraged to be involved in their classrooms, their school, and their community.  It is our goal that one day our students will return to Van Schaick Grade School as involved members of their own communities as they pass on the legacy of being 'A Van Schaick Treasure.'"