Saranac logoSaranac Central School Program Highlights

Safe Schools Programs: Fun and Inspiring
by Mary LoTemplio - December 2009

Students at Saranac Elementary School are learning to be “Too Good For Drugs”, and enjoying every bit of the education. The program, a research-based national model, is being taught as part of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students project. The third graders are especially enthused, cheering when its time for the class to begin and blocking the door to give hugs to the counselor who teaches the program when it ends. The lessons—songs and hands on activities—are engaging and entertaining for all the students and are teaching important life skills: good decision making, friendship and bonding skills, and effective communication.

Adventure Based Learning (ABL) is also making an impact in Saranac. The weekly after-school program provides experiential learning for 20 fourth and fifth graders from Saranac and Morrisonville Elementary Schools and includes a two-week program at the end of the summer that helped transition kids from vacation-mode to school-ready.

One young lady started the school year in great spirits because of ABL.  She spent much of the end of the school year talking about her summer plans to be with her mother, who was living out of the area because she was not able to provide a safe environment for the child. When it became clear that the situation remained unsafe and the summer visit wouldn’t happen, we arranged for the child to attend the summer ABL program. When school started she came in ready to learn, not talking about being disappointed that she didn’t see her mother, but full of stories to tell about the great things she had done in her adventure based group. 

Saranac Story Archive

For information on these programs please contact Mary LoTemplio - 518-565-5845 - Site Coordinator