Saint Leo the Great
Character Development & SEL Program
Saint Leo the Great School is committed to developing students of character. Saint Leo's has a comprehensive offering of character education programs. Below is a list of components that support our school’s mission to encourage our students to be active participants in their commitment to God, kindness to each other, and pursuit of knowledge.
Character Strong
CharacterStrong provides research-based K through 8th grade social & emotional learning curricula and professional learning services that positively impact lives.
Be Kind: Social skills like listening, friendship, solving conflicts, and leadership.
These skills are taught alongside Empathy, Respect, & Cooperation
Be Strong: Skills that help students focus, stay organized, and set goals.
These skills are taught alongside Responsibility, Courage, & Perseverance
Be Well: Skills that help students handle their emotions and deal with stress.
These skills are taught alongside Gratitude, Honesty, & Creativity
Grades 6-8th will have a separate, more advanced social emotional learning curriculum through Character Strong. The middle school curriculum was created to support school communities as they engage in the work of preparing young people to thrive in the 21st century. The research supports the effectiveness of this content to increase student’s academic success and college & career readiness. The lessons focus on developing skills and mindsets around building positive habits, understanding our emotions, improving teamwork, and increasing empathy. One of the key parts of nearly every lesson is the “CharacterDare” for Middle School students. These are invitations near the end of most lessons to put the content that they are learning into action in the real world.
Common Sense Education: Digital Citizenship
All students need digital citizenship skills to participate fully in their communities and make smart choices online and in life. Each digital citizenship lesson takes on real challenges and digital dillemas that students face today, giving them the skills they need to succeed as digital learners, leaders, and citizens tomorrow.
LEAD (Law Enforcement Against Drugs)
Each week a police officer meets with our 5th grade students to present the LEAD curriculum. Students discuss the dangers of drugs in the 21st century as well as learning strategies about ways to stay drug free. This partnership with the police helps build healthy help-seeking behaviors and strengthens their community engagement and outreach.
Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.) is a non profit (501C3) organization, supported by dedicated police officers, committed to protecting our youth and communities from the proliferation of drugs, drug related crimes, peer to peer/cyber bullying and violence. We achieve our goals by collaborating with educators, community leaders, families and L.E.A.D. support organizations.
Lion Strong
Lion Strong is a 7th grade elective, meeting weekly. One 7th grade homeroom per trimester is able to participate in this elective where students discuss the various challenges facing students as young people. Activities include character education reflection journals, art based activities centered around the movie "Inside Out", and a self-determined project on a topic they feel is facing youth today.
Groups
Mrs. Moran and Ms. Verbos run several lunch groups for our students throughout the school year. Topics include study and organization skills, resiliency, leadership, stress and friendships, middle school readiness, and lunch bunches! For more information on how to sign your child up for a lunch group, email Mrs. Moran at [email protected] or Ms. Verbos at [email protected] .
These are just a few of the character development projects that we have at Saint Leo the Great. Be sure to check our our website and social media accounts for daily updates on all the great working being done at SLG!
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