Sarasota Middle School has been named a National School of Character by the Character Education Partnership. The school has also been named Florida’s Top School of Character for the second year in a row.

Students at SMS have many leadership and character-building opportunities through school programs such as the Community of Caring Committee, the Builder’s Club and the Panther Patrol.

“We want our students to ‘play with heart.’ We help them do this by putting core values into the curriculum,” said Mark Grossenbacher, assistant principal. “Our five core values of caring, respect, trust, family and responsibility are reflected in every school activity. This focus helps each student achieve academic, social and emotional success.

The Character Education Partnership, based in Washington, D.C, supports both the State and National Schools of Character Awards Programs. Both programs select winners based on their successful implementation of the Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education, a program developed by the Character Education Partnership. Because winning schools are considered to be ambassadors and models of quality character education, they receive a small grant and supplies to help share character education methods with other schools in the area.