Gaithersburg To Celebrate CHARACTER COUNTS! Week

Gaithersburg mayor Sidney A. Katz presented a proclamation Monday evening to Gaithersburg Elementary School principal Stephanie Brant, announcing National CHARACTER COUNTS! week for Oct. 21-27 in the city of Gaithersburg.

"The CHARACTER COUNTS! program is an ethics education program that people of all cultures, races and religious affiliations can embrace," according to the city website.

"We really do embrace the CHARACTER COUNTS! message we give to students each day," Brant said after receiving the proclamation on behalf of six other participating schools. "We're creating very kind citizens who will give back to the community."

As part of the celebration, the city has planned several activities, including two already completed contests.

Gaithersburg's 13th Annual Adult Heroes in Our Community Essay Contest featured 135 student entrants from six city schools. Five winners and runners-up were selected. The contest was open to area elementary and middle school students. Students wrote about a local “hero” and the values and ethics that person exemplifies.

Four of the essay contest winners shared their essays with the Gaithersburg City Council at Monday evening's council meeting.

Another 890 local students participated in the city's 17th Annual CHARACTER COUNTS! Poster Contest. The city announced 10 winners and 10 runners-up. 

Posters and essays are on display at Lakeforest Shopping Center through Oct. 31. A reception celebrating the winners and honorable mentions of these two contests will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Gaithersburg Elementary School. 

Gaithersburg Patch will feature the winners of the essay and poster contests on the site during CHARACTER COUNTS! week.