During a recent school board meeting, the Orono School District highlighted significant advancements in its kindergarten program, particularly through the implementation of the \"Character Strong\" initiative. Dr. Fletcher introduced the initiative, emphasizing its foundation in summer professional learning funded by the Orono Foundation, which recently pledged $1 million to enhance educational resources and staff development.

The meeting featured kindergarten teachers Jennifer Drake and Hannah Stohlhammer, who shared their experiences from a summer conference in Seattle focused on mental health and behavior interventions. They expressed enthusiasm for the \"Purposeful People\" curriculum, which integrates character education into daily lessons, ensuring that character development is as fundamental as reading and math.

Drake and Stohlhammer detailed the program's tiered approach to support students, with Tier 1 providing universal support for all students, while Tiers 2 and 3 will offer targeted interventions for those needing additional assistance. They highlighted the importance of consistent language and terminology across grades, fostering a cohesive understanding of character education from pre-K through fifth grade.

The teachers also discussed the alignment of the \"Character Strong\" program with existing initiatives, such as \"Character Counts,\" creating a comprehensive framework for character education. Their efforts included a recent \"Kindness Kickoff\" event, which aimed to instill values of kindness and community engagement among students.

Overall, the meeting underscored the district's commitment to enhancing the educational experience for its youngest learners through innovative character education programs, supported by community generosity and a focus on mental health and well-being.