Santa Rita School - Character Counts

Project Cornerstone

Project Cornerstone is a Santa Clara County-wide movement based on survey research involving over two million children across the United States. This research, conducted by Search Institute, identified 41 developmental assets that help children thrive. The study found a direct correlation between high numbers of perceived assets and less 'at risk' behavior among children in grades 5-12. The more assets children perceive within their communities the less likely they are to be truant, do drugs, and attempt suicide. None of these assets cost anything to provide and there are no socio-economic, racial, or geographic groups that are less able to provide these assets to their youth. Keep reading to find out what Santa Rita is doing to create an asset-rich school environment for our students.

Santa Rita Project Cornerstone Programs:

Asset Building Champion (ABC reading program)

The ABC program has a three-year curriculum with different books and lessons each year. Every class in grades K-6 reads the same book and then engages in discussion and activities with their ABC docent. Many of the lessons, especially during the first year of the program, are aimed at decreasing peer abuse. These anti-bullying practices benefit everyone. Studies show that bullying isn't only harmful to the target, children who fail to develop more appropriate social skills go on to struggle in school, in personal relationships, and in their careers.

Parent Education

This fall we will be sponsoring a parent education workshop “Take it Personally” with Laurie Maitski, ABC Program Director for Santa Clara County’s Project Cornerstone. Through years of research, the Search Institute of Minneapolis identified 41 developmental assets-or essential building blocks-needed by young people to grow into healthy, caring and responsible adults. These assets have a powerful, positive effect on our children: succeeding in school, helping others, valuing diversity, exhibiting leadership, resisting danger, delaying gratification, and overcoming adversity. In this workshop parents will learn more about incorporating the assets into their lives. Participants will learn about the 41 developmental assets, and develop skills that will help them become more effective in building assets.

Expect Respect

Thirty 5th and 6th graders will attend a special workshop to help with our Project Cornerstone efforts by modeling positive behavior, helping with playground conflict resolution and presenting and reinforcing Project Cornerstone concepts and tools to the student body.

**If you have additional questions about Project Cornerstone at Santa Rita please contact the Project Cornerstone Co-Chairs: Julie Desai at omiaomaya [at] yahoo.com or Laurie Uhler at laurie [at] uhler.com