Living a Healthy Lifestyle: College for Every Student
The Rensselaer Middle School community has adapted a character education practice of living a healthy lifestyle through a physical, academic, social and emotional approach. One practice is the partnership with the College for Every Student which allows our students to engage in academic and character building opportunities. The CFES approach centers on student participation in three core practices – Pathways to College, Mentoring, and Leadership through Service. The character education core values are demonstrated through the three practices of CFES.  Since September, the Rensselaer CFES team has implemented dozens of activities.  One core practice was a Peer Mentoring program in which sixth grade mentors met on a weekly basis throughout the year with fourth and fifth graders. For Leadership through Service, our scholars planned a holiday celebration for pre-K students. They raised money for the American Heart Association and completed a Read-a-Thon for Cystic Fibrosis. A used book sale and the sale of reusable bags raised money to save endangered animals. College Pathways involved a College Awareness Week by wearing college apparel and teachers shared their own educational pathways. Rensselaer Scholars attended field trips to the University at Albany College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, Skidmore College, and Russell Sage College.