Truman High School has been selected as a 2010 National Schools of Character “Promising Practices” award winner. The national organization has selected Truman’s practice, “Links of Compassion,” to serve as a model for other schools to replicate and integrate into their character education initiatives. Students, faculty and staff from Truman High School join together to form Links of Compassion during the holiday season. During the practice, Focus Teachers (weekly advisory class) discuss with students what compassion means to them, how they can show compassion on a daily basis, and/or how someone has shown compassion toward them. Through this discussion students gain a deeper understanding that compassion occurs with simple acts of kindness. Focus Teachers then distribute pre-cut strips of paper that have been color coded based upon grade level and faculty/staff. After each person receives his/her strip the following question(s) are completed on the piece of paper, “How will you continue to show compassion in your daily life? or How could you start showing more compassion on a daily basis?” Students, faculty and staff then link their strips together in order for them to be draped from the ceiling in the school’s main lobby. This collaborative practice provides a physical presence to serve as a warm reminder to school community and visitors as to how all can show compassion on a daily basis. The CHARACTERplus Design Team member (staff member who leads CHARACTERplus at the school level) for Truman High School is Alicia Bailey.