Connecting At-Home and In-School Lessons
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” chanted students in the past; however, today we have come to realize that this expression has little merit. Words can truly hit as hard as fists. Talk is powerful! More so than ever, we must teach children how to engage with one another. To that end, together, we must join efforts in modeling for our students, of all ages, what we expect from them, as they continue to grow into responsible and trustworthy young people.
Throughout the school year, the students at TBD are engaging in year-long Character Education and Literacy lessons and initiatives focused on the themes: Be a TBD Superhero with the Three Rs: Respect, Responsibility, Resiliency and Reading for Meaning: Understanding Stories, Understanding Each Other! This thematic approach to character skills and literacy connects students with purposeful learning about acceptance and kindness.
Throughout the school year, the students at CDW will engage in lessons from The Energy Bus, a schoolwide initiative that we have the power to set the course. Teachers and students are learning strategies to set a positive tone, become informed, tackle difficult situations, and identify trusted adults. Because of our fortunate, working relationship with the Old Tappan Police Department, officers recently provided our middle school students with an educative program about e-bikes and scooters, which allowed students to ask questions to quell their curiosities.
More naturally in schools, we focus on positive and constructive messages to encourage respectful behavior and thoughtful decision-making. However, this work does not begin and end in schools. Your efforts are undeniably powerful.