2nd grade students will be starting “Kid’s Connection” on Wednesday, January 16th. “Kid’s Connection” is a 10 week self esteem, drug education and refusal skills program provided to area schools by the Abilene Regional Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse (ARCADA). Ms. Kim Glenn has been our “Kid’s Connection” facilitator for several years and we are looking forward to her working with our 2nd grade students.

Kids’ Connection Session Goals and Major Messages: To provide a safe place for children to learn vital life skills that will help them make healthy choices, overcome adversity, and stay drug-free while gaining a greater understanding about themselves and others.

Session Goal Major Message
1. Getting To Know You
To get acquainted and learn about the group process. I AM not alone.
2. A Celebration Of Me
To recognize and celebrate the unique and special qualities of each participant. I AM special, capable, unique, and valued.
3. Feelings
To identify feelings and learn appropriate, healthy ways to express them. All my feelings are okay and I CAN choose how to express them.
4. Handling Anger
To identify ways to stay calm and stay out of fights. I CAN stay calm when I feel angry and not get into fights.
5. Dreams and Goal Setting
To gain or strengthen our sense of purpose and feel more confident in setting goals and taking steps that will help us in achieving our dreams. I BELIEVE there is a purpose for my life.
6. Making Healthy Choices
To recognize that we have the freedom to make choices and that most people our age want to make healthy choices. I WILL be alcohol, tobacco, and drug free.
7. Friends
To identify ways to make and maintain healthy friendships. I CAN treat others like I want to be treated.
8. Resisting Negative Peer Pressure
To develop the confidence needed to resist negative peer pressure that could lead to unhealthy choices. I WILL resist negative peer pressure and stay out of trouble.
9. Putting It All Together To review all the major messages and key points from the previous eight sessions. I HAVE learned many things about myself that will help me now and in the future.
10. Celebration and Commitment To celebrate one another and our Kids’ Connection group experience and to make a commitment not to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
• I AM special, capable, unique, and valued.
• I CAN treat others like I want to be treated.
• I HAVE people who care about me.
• I WILL be alcohol, tobacco, and drug free.
• I BELIEVE there is a purpose for my life.