SALINEVILLE – Presentations of the Family Recovery Center’s annual Aiming High program will be kicking off once again at Southern Local Elementary School.

SLES Guidance Counselor Larry Rudloff said the program, which centers on life and character lessons, will return Oct. 5 and run into the new year. Weekly sessions will be led by the Lisbon-based center’s educational specialists Lauren DeMarco and Ashley McLaughlin, who will speak to grades K-4, and Denise Kuhlman, who will address fifth-graders.

DeMarco and McLaughlin will begin by speaking to first-grade classes each Thursday from Oct. 5-26.

“The program will consist of four 30-minute presentations in each classroom,” Rudloff added. “The focus of the program will be on life skills such as making healthy choices, building friendships, understanding feelings and communication skills.”

They will then visit third-graders on Wednesdays from Nov. 1-29 to discuss conflict resolution, peer pressure, making healthy choices and the importance of clear communication and address fourth-graders on Tuesdays from Nov. 7-Dec. 5 on aspects of decision making, problem solving, respecting differences and the correct use of medicine.

Sessions continue at the start of 2024 with DeMarco and McLaughlin meeting second-graders on Wednesdays from Jan. 3-24 to discuss decisions and consequences, building self-confidence, risky behaviors and introduction to medicine, while Kuhlman will visit fifth-graders each Tuesday from Jan. 4-25 to talk about assertiveness, peer pressure, responsibility, communication and respect for oneself and others. DeMarco and McLaughlin will wrap up the program with kindergarteners on Thursdays from Feb. 1-22 to discuss making good decisions, character building and knowing how to be a good person or citizen.

Rudloff said the Family Recovery Center has presented the program at SLES for more than two decades. In the event of a two-hour delay or school cancellation, the speakers will extend the schedule to complete their presentations.