Middle School Students to Learn Important Life Skills

Published September 30, 2010

In addition to math, English and science, thousands of Williamson County middle school students will be learning important life skills this year.  It's part of an effort to help students make healthy decisions in life.

Earlier this month a group of sixth, seventh and eighth grade teachers gathered in Franklin for a special two day training session. The training was conducted by Circa Learning and organized by WCS Safe and Drug Free Coordinator Dianne O'Neil.  The purpose was to show teachers new techniques for helping middle school students avoid high risk behaviors.

"What we're doing is helping health teachers learn how to bring some state of the art evidence-based curriculum around health promotion and prevention education to their students," said Circa Learning Consultant Alayne Macarthur.  "We know there is a lot of risk opportunity out there for middle school students, which is why we want to provide them with the skills they need to make good decisions."

Teachers say it's especially important to reach these students at a young age.  "Between sixth grade and the time they graduate high school, students will be faced with a lot of obstacles and a lot of negative things," said Brentwood Middle School Coach Dennis Harrison.  "Hopefully, this will help our students become better citizens and better people.