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Harrison students showcase "skills and traits" program to Canyon City Schools board
Summary
Students from Harrison Middle School presented a classroom program focused on 14 "skills and traits," describing assemblies, morning announcements, ticket incentives and house-team competitions intended to reinforce character development across grades K–8.
Students and a teacher from Harrison Middle School presented the district board with an overview of a classroom program that teaches 14 "skills and traits," describing how the lessons are reinforced by schoolwide announcements, tickets and house-team competitions.
Mark Weavers, an eighth-grade ELA teacher at Harrison, told the board the school added a class this year focused on "skills and traits" and incorporated the concepts into morning announcements and schoolwide activities. "We started doing a new class this year. It's based on skills and traits," Weavers said.
A Harrison student who identified herself as Jane explained how the program works for younger students: "At Harrison, skills and traits are very important to not just us, but to our school as a whole. These teach us to value personal growth, hard work in ourselves, and in our peers." She described classroom journals, posters the students made for each skill and tickets staff award to students who demonstrate the traits.
Students turn tickets in at the office for a positive call home and to earn points for one of four house teams — red, green, yellow and blue. The teams compete in relay races tied to each month's highlighted skill or trait; prizes have included pajama days and hat day at assemblies. The student presentation included examples of posters and the physical tickets used by Harrison staff.
Board members praised the students and staff for the program. President Lisa said the students' ability to present and speak to the board demonstrated the value of the skills being taught. Board members asked a brief clarifying question during the presentation about teamwork and communication, and the presenters responded with examples of how the lessons are practiced in group activities.
Why it matters: The program aims to teach and reinforce social-emotional and character development across grades K–8 at Harrison through explicit instruction and schoolwide routines. Board members described the presentation as evidence of ongoing work in school culture and student engagement.
Next steps and context: The presentation was listed as an informational item; no formal board action was recorded on the program. The board's later business proceeded to policy votes and calendar adoption.
