A video series designed to teach elementary students about positive character traits has earned national recognition for the Red Jacket Central School District.
The district’s animated series, RJ’s Birdhouse, received an Honorable Mention in the Best Video Series category from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), one of the nation’s leading organizations for school communications professionals.
The award places Red Jacket among school districts and educational organizations across the country, recognized for excellence in communicating with students, families, and their communities. NSPRA received thousands of entries nationwide, with submissions evaluated against organizations of similar size and type for both quality and effectiveness.
Created by the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES Communications Team, RJ’s Birdhouse was developed to help elementary students better understand and apply the district’s Cardinals CARE values — Cooperation, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.
The animated series follows Little RJ, Red Jacket’s baby cardinal mascot, as students explain how the CARE values can be demonstrated in everyday situations at school. Episodes feature student voices and real-life examples from classrooms, playgrounds, and other school settings.
Since its debut, the series has become a regular part of elementary school programming. Teachers use the videos during classroom lessons, morning meetings, and school assemblies to reinforce positive behavior and help students understand expectations. The episodes are also shared with families to encourage conversations about the CARE values at home.
Students have played a key role in producing the series. Older students have assisted with interviews, filming, and content development, providing leadership opportunities while serving as role models for younger classmates.
District officials said the goal of RJ’s Birdhouse is to make the Cardinals CARE values more meaningful and memorable by connecting them to familiar faces and experiences within the school community.
The national recognition highlights the program’s success in promoting character education, student engagement, and effective school communication while helping students put the district’s core values into practice every day.
