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"Project Wisdom puts
pupils on positive track"
CARMEL
-- When Allie McCan heard a Project Wisdom message about how girls
can become a future president, it had an impact on her. The message
went on to say students should try hard in school to get good grades.
The Cherry Tree Elementary fifth-grader took it to heart, as
she does each of the morning words of wisdom.
"They help you get through the day," she said.
Cherry Tree is one of more than 11,000 U.S. schools participating
in Project Wisdom.
Carmel Clay's Orchard Park and Prairie Trace elementaries also participate.
Each morning, students from Cherry Tree's morning- announcements
broadcast team read a 60-second message with a quote from a historic
figure, celebrity or modern hero that reinforces the topic of that
day. Topics include concepts like integrity, respect, confidence,
courage and honesty. The goal is to set a positive tone for the
day.
Project Wisdom provides schools with the messages.
Principal Don Setterlof said he likes that Project Wisdom promotes
a caring, learning environment at school.
"The closing line of 'make it a great day or not, the choice
is yours' is a very powerful way to close out each day's announcements,"
he said.
The principal said the messages help encourage students to make
wiser choices.
Setterlof said students are bombarded with so many negative messages
these days, he wanted to counteract that with positive ones. Also,
he said the program fit in nicely with the skill-of-the-month program,
in which students and teachers focus on a positive character trait,
such as responsibility or kindness. Banners touting those traits
hang in the hallways.
Setterlof said teachers have started using the Project Wisdom messages
in their classrooms, asking students to keep journals. The technical
assistance team, made up of teachers from each grade level and designed
to promote a positive school culture, is looking at more ways to
help educators follow up on the messages in class.
Fifth-grader Madeline Lagacey said she thinks about the morning
messages each day.
"They teach you a really good lesson," she said.
Leslie Luton Matula, a public school and community volunteer, founded
Project Wisdom in 1992. After years of volunteering in schools,
Matula saw a need to more actively foster responsible, caring and
ethical student behavior.
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Copyright (c) Topics. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank,
inc.
Record Number: top68739774
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