Area School Leads Positivity Project Initiative
ZANESVILLE, Ohio — One local area elementary school is the first in the state of Ohio to take on an initiative that is quickly growing around the country.
Somerset Elementary School began implementing an initiative called the “Positivity Project” last year for students in grades K-5. The goal of the Positivity Project is to not only help students see value in themselves but more importantly, how to see the value in other students and individuals.
Principal Ed Wolfel says the project has been very well received not only by students and teachers but with parents and other families in the community as well.
“The positivity project is a character strength education strategy that teaches positive psychology to our students. It involves 24 character strengths that are essential in all this, some greater than others, so we focus on each of those throughout the course of the school year,” said Wolfel.
Students, teachers, and staff members are asked to take a survey three times during the year to measure how they felt about coming to school, and also how they felt about their peers and themselves.
Wolfel, along with other teachers and staff, received training on positive psychology and the different character strengths to help with the implementation. And while Principal Wolfel believes year one has been a success, he sees the program continuing to develop and grow in year two and into the future.
“Next year we’re looking at delving into more of a kindergarten, first-grade level, second grade and third, and then fourth and fifth grade. Currently, our teachers facilitate, next year our goal is to have our fourth and fifth graders really understanding those character strengths and having the conversations, leading the conversations and being the ones in charge of it,” Wolfel added.
Further development of this initiative will not only take place at Somerset next year, but all around the country as the numbers of schools participating is expected to increase from 30 to 200. The program can be followed with the hashtag #otherpeoplematter.
