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SALINEVILLE - Kindergarteners at Southern Local Elementary are learning character skills throughout the month of February as part of the Aiming High program.
The four-week program runs from Feb. 1 through 22 and is provided by the Family Recovery Center Education Department. Education Specialist Lauren DeMarco is leading grade-appropriate discussions with a little assistance from Tuggles the Teddy Bear, and she will introduce students to decision making and help them distinguish between healthy and unhealthy choices.
SLES Guidance Counselor Larry Rudloff said Aiming High has already capped off sessions this fall with grades 1-5 using more age-appropriate lessons on making good decisions, but the kindergarten program will be the final portion for the school year.
Lesson topics include "Be Good to Your Body," which helps students learn how to identify how their bodies work, with a focus on the brain, heart and lungs and the importance of staying healthy; "The Healthy Thing to Do," in which pupils will identify safe and healthy practices to help them meet health, hygiene and fitness goals; "Peer Pressure," which addresses personal responsibility for making positive choices by applying the "Stop and Think" decision-making model to situations involving medicine, tobacco and alcohol; and "Too Good for Drugs," where students learn the differences between substances that are harmful to eat and drink from those that are safe.
Rudloff said the Family Recovery Center has presented the program at SLES for more than two decades. In the event of a two-hour delay or school cancellation, the speaker may extend the schedule to complete the presentations.
Meanwhile, kindergarten students will also take part in the Kelly Bear program this spring with School Security Officer Jeff Haugh, who will address similar character-building topics. Haugh will also utilize videos with his presentations and will discuss manners, feelings and actions. Those sessions are set to run from April 11 through May 30.