The Mustangs of Lakeway Elementary are about to get a medieval-style lesson in ethics, thanks to a revolutionary character education program sponsored by The Knights of the Guild and the Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Club.
EarlyAct FirstKnight is a program designed to pass on Rotary-like ideals to schoolchildren through in-class curriculum and homework assignments emphasizing Tolerance, Responsibility, Confidence, Perseverance, Discipline, Respect, Honesty, Compassion, Friendliness, and Service. Students can achieve rankings such as “Page,” “Squire,” and “Knight” through school-wide knighting ceremonies. The program is sponsored by the non-profit education services organization The Knights of the Guild and headed by Randall Parr, a decorated naval officer with more than 20 years of experience in creating acclaimed ethics development programs for young people.
Lakeway Elementary School students will be introduced to the program via a live-action presentation featuring real jousting knights, costumed warhorses, and special effects beginning at 1:15 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23.
“Children today are suffering from ethical impairment that includes dishonesty, irresponsibility, disrespect, hatred, jealousy, greed, and indifference to others,” said Parr. “This program will empower them. It’s going to give them chances and opportunities to do so many great things.”
“We see this program as a great opportunity for not only Lakeway Elementary but for the entire Lake Travis school community,” said Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary member Sam Chapman. “In the long run, it is our hope that the program will be implemented at each campus within the district.”
The program will be coordinated in conjunction with the Lake Travis Independent School District’s Healthy Lifestyles Program.