Little Climbers Club: Starting with the youngest
The mission of the Urbana Elementary Little Climbers Club is to mentor our youngest students by teaching them skills to be successful members of our community. This project, organized by a group of Kindergarten through second grade staff and the administration of the school started during the 2021-22 school year, was developed as an attempt to try something a little different in addressing the behavioral needs of our students.
The concept of the program is to take students who may have some behavioral challenges and turn them into classroom leaders. Nominated by their classroom teacher to participate in the program, the students are given positive attention and extra support with examples of doing the right thing and making good choices at all times.
The Little Climbers program is aligned with the school’s character traits for each month and the state social emotional learning standards. Throughout the month, information about the trait is shared with all students in the building. On the last Tuesday of each month, the Club members enjoy lunch together while watching a brief video about the character trait. Activities such as a craft or a game are used to reinforce the message of the day.
Each month a guest speaker from the community talks about the character trait and how to apply it to our life. As an opportunity to spread the message of the character trait, the Little Climbers invite a classroom friend to join them for this lunch. The goal is for these students to go back to their classrooms and be leaders in demonstrating the trait for the month.
The topic for February was fairness. The motto for the month was Little Climbers show fairness by trying their best to treat people kindly, respectfully, and fairly; even if our opinions are different. The guest speaker was Michael Nitchman of Farmers and Merchants State Bank in Urbana. He talked about his role at the bank and being fair when loaning people money.
The culminating event for the Little Climbers Club last year was a luncheon where students were able to invite a family member or relative to join them. Guest speakers from throughout the year along with community volunteers, board members, and central office staff were also in attendance to ensure that each student had an adult guest to share in the celebration for the year. Each student was individually recognized and provided a certificate of participation.
The Little Climber Club advisors for this school year are Marcia Marsh, Diane Deitrick (kindergarten teachers), Jaimie Anderson, Macy Calland, Ashton Childs, Kelly Glessner, Chuck Pack (1st grade), Jenn Chapman, Sarah Nannarone (2nd grade), Cris Dorsey (K-2 School Counselor), and Melanie Anders (K-2 Principal).