SALINEVILLE – Southern Local Elementary students will learn about character building to peer pressure as the Aiming High program returns this January.

Representatives of the Family Recovery Center in Lisbon have visited SLES throughout the fall to address life skills topics with pupils in first, third and fourth grade on such issues as making healthy choices, conflict resolution and problem solving. Now they will resume in January and February and speak with children in the kindergarten, second- and fifth-grade classrooms. SLES Guidance Counselor Larry Rudloff said FRC educators have been visiting the school for more than two decades to discuss how kids could be their best selves.

“The program will consist of four 30-minute presentations,” he said. “In the event of a two-hour delay or a cancellation day, they will extend the schedule to ensure that all four programs will be presented to the students.”

Second-graders returning after the holiday break will learn life skills such as decisions and consequences, building self-confidence, risky behaviors and introduction to medicine on Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25 while fifth-graders will hear about assertiveness, peer pressure, responsibility, communication and respect for oneself and others on Jan. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Kindergarten classes will hear about during their sessions on Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 22. Representatives Kierstin Fillman and Ashley McLaughlin will speak to second-grade and kindergarten students while Denise Kuhlman is scheduled to address the fifth-graders.