Henkle programs promote a positive environment

“Sometimes I get into arguments…and then I don’t even remember how they started.”

“It’s hard to fit in sometimes. I used to hang out with a certain group…and now I don’t.”

Real-life middle school students shared these thoughts on video, helping launch “Second Step” for Henkle Middle School fifth and sixth graders this past week. Produced by the Committee for Children, Second Step is a “Promising Practices” program endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), and many other programs, earning the distinction as a research-based, model program for youth.

Second Step features participatory activities that engage students in several learning units, including Empathy and Communication, Bullying Prevention, Emotional Management, and Substance Abuse Prevention. Students will role-play various real-life scenarios, reflect individually and in groups about making healthy choices, and produce creative projects, such as posters and signs, to learn effective skills for navigating their growing-up journeys. At Henkle Middle School fifth and sixth graders will work through this award-winning curriculum on Mondays during their “Connections” morning blocks.

Second Step comprises part of a comprehensive approach that Henkle Middle School utilizes to help all students develop effective social-emotional skills. Seventh and eighth graders learn to know and appreciate each other, breaking the barriers of cliques, through its daily “Connections” program. This 20-minute period often features a “greeting and a reading.” Students greet each other within their Connections circle, share a short reading, and take turns voluntarily responding to it. For example, the week of Sept. 26-30 will concentrate upon the power of our words, with a special focus upon bullying. One reading tells the real-life story of J.R. Trujillo, who experienced much bullying at Arroyo del Oso Elementary School in Albuqueque, New Mexico. Tormented with jeers such as “fatso” and “chubby,” he spent much of his time simply trying to hide. But J.R.’s school tackled the issue. A unified and determined approach by faculty and direct talk about the issue stopped the bullying and inspired other students to stick up for J.R.

Readings such as the one about J.R. capture what Henkle Middle School is determined to do—to be “real” about students’ experiences and to equip them with perspectives and skills that lead to a positive social environment—healthy students who can focus on learning and realize their fullest potential as human beings. All students have heard presentations in their P.E. classes about the White Salmon Valley School District’s new “Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying” (HIB) procedures, including what actually constitutes bullying as well as numerous ways that they can report it to make it stop. In October, eighth graders will spend “Challenge Day” together, an event designed to help them understand each other more fully as human beings. The day culminates with students directly and publicly issuing heart-felt apologies for hurts they’ve inflicted over the years and pledges to look out for each other, particularly the most vulnerable among them. Our school’s Parent-Teacher Organization and our local health department all provide financial assistance through grants to help Henkle Middle School fund this event.

We consider parents to be vital partners in our endeavor to make our school a positive and healthy place for all students. We welcome parents who wish to participate in our upcoming Challenge Day event in late October to call us at 493-1502 or to drop by our school and tell us. We invite parents to learn more about the programs described in this article. Here are some websites that describe some of the programs we use:

Second Step: http://www.cfchildren.org/programs/ssp/ms/
Challenge Day: http://www.challengeday.org/
School-wide Positive Behavior Support System: http://www.pbis.org/

Our educators are committed to providing a positive learning environment for all students.