School-Connect: Optimizing the High School Experience

Provider Name: School-Connect
Contact: Kathy Beland
Address: 6202 Wilmett Rd
Bethesda MD 20817
Phone: (301) 493-2597
Fax: (866) 439-0581
Toll Free: (800) 597-6209
Web Site: www.school-connect.net
Email: info@school-connect.net


PROGRAM FOCUS: In this section the provider lists the dimensions of student growth and development that its program intends to address.

Values and Virtues: Caring; Diversity; Family; Fairness; Honesty; Kindness; Pro Social Norms; Perseverance; Respect; Responsibility;
Life Skills: Active Listening; Body Language; Compromise; Cooperation; Critical Thinking; Conflict Resolution; Communication; Decision making; Empathy; Goal Setting; Group Relationship Skills; Problem Solving; Refusal Skills; Relationship Skills; Study Skills; Time Management
Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health: Adjustment to Change; Drug/Alcohol Abuse Prevention; Motivation; Human Potential; Pregnancy Prevention; Self-Awareness; Self Control/Discipline; Stress Management; Self- Respect;
Socially Negative Behaviors: Bullying; Cheating; Peer Pressure; Prejudice; Teasing; Violence
Community Involvement: Bonding with Pro-Social Institutions; Peace Making; Peer Support; Parent/Family Involvement


AUDIENCE:

1. This is the target audience the program/services are designed to impact.
Students: High School; At Risk; Special Needs
Staff: Administrators; Teachers; Student Services; Support Staff
Community: Parents/Family
2. This is the audience that will work directly with the program to achieve results.
Students: N/A
Staff: Administrators; Teachers; Student Services; Support Staff
Community: N/A


PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

School-Connect®: Optimizing the High School Experience is a 40-lesson curriculum (grades 9-12) designed to improve students' social and emotional skills, boost academic achievement, and facilitate supportive relationships among students and teachers. School-Connect can be implemented in freshman seminar, life skills, health, English, advisory, special education, or leadership courses. The curriculum consists of four modules: 1. Creating a Supportive Learning Community; 2. Developing Self-Awareness and Self-Management; 3. Building Academic Strengths; and 4. Resolving Conflicts and Making Decisions. School-Connect works especially well in preparing incoming freshmen for the demands of high school. Lessons focus on bolstering protective factors - such as supportive relationships, social skills, emotional management, and effective study habits - and reducing risk factors associated with school violence and high school drop out rates (e.g., bullying, social isolation, and poor academic attitudes and habits). School-Connect lessons apply the latest research in emotional intelligence, positive psychology, prevention, conflict resolution, and character education. The lessons are designed to create a positive school climate while giving students opportunities to explore, discuss, and practice skills crucial to success in school and the workplace. Lead author Kathy Beland, M.Ed., is the original author of the award-winning Second Step, A Violence Prevention Curriculum, which is implemented in over 20,000 classrooms in the U.S. and Canada and in 21 other countries, and lead-author of Eleven Principle's Sourcebook: How to Achieve Quality Character Education in K-12 Schools. See www.school-connect.net for more information.


PROGRAM COMPONENTS: These are the tools or services the program offers in each of the stages of program development listed below.

Needs Assessment: N/A
Implementation: Staff Development; School-Based Programs;Teacher Education; Curriculum Integration
Evaluation Methods: Observation (Scoring Rubric)


STAFF DEVELOPMENT: The following items provide information about the program training requirements, types of staff development offered, and where training is delivered.

Training: Optional Training Delivered: National; Regional; On-Site
Amount of training required: One day
Multiple levels of training (i.e. introductory, intermediate, advanced): Yes
Format/Design: Workshops/eminars; Large Group Presentation; Training of Trainers; Follow-up Support


EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVENESS: This section lists whether or not the program provider has evaluated the results of their program. If the program does have evaluation results, this section indicates what kinds of data were collected and where the results were published.

DO YOU HAVE EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVENESS: Yes
1. Methods and/or designs that have been used: Case Studies; Interview; Observation; Testimonials
2. Results/outcomes were published in: Web-site


SUPPORT MATERIALS: This section lists required and optional support materials.

Required Curriculum Guides; Teacher Manual; CD-Rom
Optional Workbooks