Wednesday, September 24, 2003
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Wednesday, September 24, 2003 |
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Anti-bullying program extends to after school After-school students will be accentuating the positive this year. Four Fayette County After School Programs (ASP) will become the first in the nation to earn positive label certification through the popular KC3 Positive Label Program, which has been implemented in many of the county's schools and school buses over the last two years. ASPs at Robert J. Burch, Huddleston, Kedron and Oak Grove Elementary schools will be the first to pilot the program aimed at reducing bullying by teaching children how to turn negative situations into positive ones. The program is built around a story about a young boy who experiments with words and learns the power they have, both positive and negative. The program teaches students life skills that they can use to develop positive relationships. "This opportunity will empower our children with information and life skills to turn negative situations, like bullying, into positive outcomes," says ASP Director Julia Simpson. On Aug. 29, ASP staff from the four schools attended a training session at the Fayette County Board of Education led by KC3 program founder and Peachtree City resident Margaret Ross. Staff members were educated about how the four-week program works, given lesson plans and ideas for creative implementation. Each ASP must have a minimum of two activities per week focusing on the effects of labeling before it can earn positive label certification. One activity that everyone must participate in is reading Ross's book, "Casey and the Amazing, Giant, Green Shirt." Perhaps the best component of the program is that it involves not only the participation of students, but also teachers and parents. Staff members say they are excited about being the first ASP in the nation to bring KC3 to their students. "We already knew that the After School Program is a place where good memories are made. The KC3 program gives us tools that can turn these memories into lifelong skills for positive relationships," said Celeste Stephens, ASP site coordinator at Oak Grove. Schools and buses that have already completed the certification process report a decrease in discipline problems and referrals. East Fayette Elementary was among the schools last year that followed Braelinn Elementary, the first school in the nation to earn certification. "I have noticed that the students at East Fayette are, in general, kind and considerate to one another. I credit 'Casey's Amazing Green Shirt' for their good attitude. As a substitute teacher, I wish more elementary schools would share this program with their students," said Bona Gray. Positive label certification for Fayette schools is being provided under the CARE (Children at Risk in Education) umbrella of programs. The certification program is also included in the official character education resources of the National Museum of Patriotism.
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