Our Circleville Elementary School fifth-graders were pretty excited to receive their certificates and a special gift for completing the Too Good for Violence program.

 

The program, delivered by the incomparable Kevin Allen, is done through ADAC (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council).  Mr. Allen is a certified prevention educator with a lifetime of experience in the field. He spent 30 years with the New York City Department of Education as the Prevention Education coordinator. 

This program the group just finished, Too Good for Violence, promotes character, values, social-emotional skills, and healthy beliefs of elementary and middle school students. Mr. Allen worked with the students, building on the previous lesson and focusing on building good character, social-emotional growth and respect for themselves and others.

 

The students also worked on goal setting, reducing stress, anger management, decision making and appropriate role models. They spent time on conflict resolution and bullying.

At Tuesday’s certificate ceremony, Assistant Principal Joe Prestianni talked to the students about making good choices, something Mr. Allen stressed with them. “Let Mr. Allen be on your shoulder when you are making choices now and when you go to middle school,” said Mr. Prestianni.

When Mr. Allen addressed the students, he told them that people refer to them as our future leaders. “That’s not the case,” he said. “You are the leaders of now! We are giving you the seeds of promise now.”

 

The students are enthusiastic with Mr. Allen. They react so favorably to him, with respect and ease. Before he shook their hands when they received their certificate of completion from their classroom teacher, he had them loudly repeat after him:

Do not. Let anyone. Steal your joy.

Do not. Let anyone. Steal your future.

Do not. Let anyone. Steal your gift.

 

 

Each student was called to the podium to receive their certificate, shake hands with Mr. Allen and Principal Kristin Slover and receive a cool pair of sunglasses from Mr. Prestianni. They used the American Sign Language sign for applause – waving their hands – as each student was called. Then at the completion, they let it loose with wild applause and shouts. They deserved it!

“There is greatness in all of you,” said Mr. Allen, “a future in you.”

 

For more information about ADAC, go to http://www.adacinfo.com/