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Urbandale middle school students showcase new "connections" social-emotional program
Summary
Students at Urbandale Middle School demonstrated "connections," a new social‑emotional learning course using the CharacterStrong curriculum, describing activities, videos and weekly character dares and inviting the community to observe daily classes.
Lindsey Cornwall, principal of Urbandale Middle School, introduced a group of students Tuesday evening who presented the school's new "connections" program aimed at developing social‑emotional skills.
Students described classroom activities drawn from the CharacterStrong curriculum, including videos that teach kindness through music and short exercises called "character dares." Sixth‑grader Elin Williams and other students explained that dares can include writing a gratitude letter, inviting someone to sit with you at lunch or smiling at a peer. The class runs daily from 7:35 to 8:10 a.m., Cornwall said, and teachers rotate lessons on feelings, communication and friendship-building.
Students and staff emphasized practical classroom practices: one student described learning active listening and setting aside phones during conversations, another noted games and short video segments used to prompt discussion. A teacher described a weekly practice where students either practice a social skill in class or try it independently and reflect back.
Cornwall closed by inviting community members to observe connections classes and said the program aims to give students structured time to practice respectful communication and gratitude.
The board then resumed its regular agenda.
