Pasadena ISD’s Jessup Elementary School recently partnered with Rotary Club of Houston Hobby Area and Houston Achievement Place (HAP) to implement a research-based program that focuses on developing essential social and relationship skills among their students. This collaboration results from exploring viable methods designed to improve student behavior and academic performance by utilizing the resources of HAP’s Project CLASS (Children Learning Appropriate Social Skills) program. Rotary Club of Houston Hobby Area committed financial support for Jessup’s pilot program for the 2023-2024 school year.
The program began with a Jessup staff training in August which provided staff with knowledge on how to implement Project CLASS’s resources. Throughout the school year, Project CLASS representatives Kim Andrew and Irene Carrion will provide in-school lessons to Jessup students by organizing small groups each week to incorporate some of these lessons into their regular schooling.
“The goal is that our students will learn concise behavior skills through simple lessons,” says Ashley Haynes, counselor at Jessup Elementary. “These lessons will include basic social skills such as accepting no, making eye contact, and asking for permission.”
Immediate Past President of Hobby Area Rotary, Gloria Griffin, stated that the Project CLASS initiative is an expansion of the community partnerships beginning with Jessup Elementary during the 2022-2023 school year. With collaborations such as Constable Office of Precinct 2 and barbers provided by a local hair salon, Jessup’s annual Giving Tree event was expanded to include student and family photos with Santa Claus and haircuts for students who had ornaments on the school’s giving tree.
Rotarians participated in Jessup’s Career Day featuring positions such as law enforcement, attorney, school administrator, businessman, and executive assistant to eight different classrooms. Collectively, the Rotary speakers were able to present to over 225 students and provided snacks, props, and giveaway items.