Media

Impressed by a program that meets many of New Jersey's Core Content Curriculum and character ed goals for students. fulfills state professional development standards for teachers--and involves parents as well!--the Middle Township Public School system in Cape May County, New Jersey has enthusiastically implemented Relationship Improvement SKills for several years.

Assistant Superintendent Karen Buesing endorses the "wonderful work that Peggy Amidon has done and continues to do with our school district," declaring that the program has had "a profound effect on students ranging from elementary school right on up through grade 12."

Peggy began her work in M.T. in grades 3-5, teaching students how to demonstrate Respect and Responsibility through specific behaviors. Before long, says Karen Buesing, " all children in Middle Township elementary #2 were able to articulate and emulate the behaviors." Adds Buesing: "That school has since been recognized as a New Jersey Star School, based in part on their strong character education program."

The R.I.Sk program then expanded to M.T.'s middle school, where again students, teachers, and parents learned and practiced the behaviors used in every 1-to-1 relationship and in every group. During this period Peggy also reinforced the skills learned in elementary school in a summer transition program and also reached out to at-risk children in the community so she could "stay connected year-round with our kids."

Over the past two years, Middle Township's R.I.Sk program has reached the high-school level, with 10 classes of sophomores learning and practicing "Relating with Respect and Responsibility" through scheduled health classes. As Karen Buesing points out, "as our students mature…the need for specific responsible behaviors actually becomes greater, and the R.I.Sk program addresses that need."

As part of her commitment to create a district-wide culture in which all share a common behavioral language, Peggy Amidon also hosted a one-day training session with guidance counselors from the district and beyond and was a presenter during the first semester of Panther Parent University, an evening educational program for M.T. parents.

During the 2003-2004 school year, Relationship Improvement SKills training will be given to all 650 students and staff in the district's middle school. As Karen Buesing sums up, "Peggy Amidon and the R.I.Sk program have become part of our school district as well as our community," because they target "behaviors that are essential to students, teachers, parents, and counselors."

For More Information Contact:

R.I.Sk Seminars, Inc.
1444 Hamilton Street, Suite 5B, Allentown, PA 18102
Tel: 610.770.8800
FAX: 610.770.6040
Internet: peggyamidon@yahoo.com