Saranac Elementary School Principal Jason Smith is announcing that students in two of Saranac’s third grade classes have successfully completed the “Too Good for Violence” program.
“Too Good for Violence” is a violence prevention and character education program that teaches character based skills, attitudes, and behaviors to help elementary students tell the difference between feelings and actions, encourage respect between peers and celebrate diversity.
Program lessons and activities help kids realize that as individuals and as a group, they are too good for bullying and violence.
The program teaches social and emotional learning skills, which research has linked with healthy development and academic success: Conflict resolution, anger management, respect for self and others and effective communication.
The curriculum is based on seven one-hour sessions and taught by Deb Thalison, Ionia County Substance Abuse Prevention Director/Community Health Supervisor.
"This program was first piloted last year to fifth grade students,” Thalison said. “The program was expanded this year to include third grade. We are excited to announce we will be providing “Too Good for Drugs,” and “Too Good for Violence” to 13 classrooms in the 2017-2018 school year.”
“Too Good for Violence” is an evidence-based curriculum by the Mendez Foundation, provided in partnership with the Ionia County Substance Abuse Initiative (ICSAI), the Ionia County Health Department and
