Parents, did you know that Scotchtown Hills has a lot of exciting programs to offer your child, here are just a few of our programs: Second Step, Peer Mediation, Achievers, Character Education and Citizenship. Please take a moment of your time to familiarize yourself these exciting programs.

This is a violent prevention program. Earlier this year, you may have received a letter from your child's teacher indicating that your child was participating in a program called Second Step. As the letter indicated, the goal of the program is to build your child's social skills by learning ways to solve everyday programs. The program is divided into three areas: empathy training, impulse control, and anger management.

Second Step is being implemented in Prince Georges County Public schools K-8th grade. Our entire Staff has been trained for these programs. I will have a meeting sometime this winter to further explain the program and how can help at home. Please keep your eye open for more information on Second Step.

Hip Hip Hooray for Peer Mediation! Or Peer Mediation Program is working here at Scotchtown Hills. The Peer Mediation Program teaches that conflict is a natural process and help students find peaceful solution to problems. The back bone of the program is the belief that students can solve their own problems and that students can be responsible. The program is designed to allow students (with adult supervision) to resolve conflicts.

Our Peer Mediators, grades 4-6 received training to assist in this important assignment. The training included problem-solving, decision making, listening skills that will benefit the student for a life time. Hip Hip Hooray for Peer Mediation!

Are you aware of our Achievers Program? Students from grade 4-6 were selected by their classroom teacher to participate in the program. The Purpose of the program is to give students an opportunity to become excited about their education, and expand their social and cultural horizons. Vital to this motivation and encouragement is the understanding that these young people must learn who they are, where they are going, and how to make good decisions for reaching their dreams. This is accomplished through a holistic program that promotes academic achievement, social awareness, cultural appreciation, and personal development. We have such a program here. We meet every Friday and our students are very excited about it.

Character is what a person is inside. Our character is revealed by how we act when we think no one else is looking. It is how we treat people who we think cannot help or hurt us. A person of character has good ethical values that distinguish right from wrong and strong commitment to do what is right even when it is inconvenient, uncomfortable, or personally costly. Character in short is moral strength. Our objective is to instill the six pillars of character in our school: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. At the beginning of each month our gold student will announce the character word and meaning over the intercom daily along with a quote.

Our Staff will articulate and model that word on a daily basis each month in and out of the classroom and expect students to do the same. Students will also write the meaning of that word and share it with their families.

Our Citizenship program is a monthly positive reinforcement program designed to provide consistent positive recognition to students for their good behavior, good efforts, good character, and attendance. Our goal is to promote and develop a year long recognition program to encourage good character, build self-esteem, promote positive school climate, develop interpersonal skills, improve attendance, enlist parents support and encourage parents to follow through at home. At the end of the month classroom teachers will select a student based on criteria. Names will be posted and students will receive a special treat Certificates will be given at the end of the year.