North Augusta Elementary

North Augusta Elementary is proud to celebrate our first Habit Hero Breakfast of the school year! This special recognition celebrates students who are putting our Leader in Me habits into action and demonstrating leadership through the choices they make each day.

Our first Habit Heroes are being recognized for demonstrating Habit 1: Be Proactive — You’re in Charge!

What Does It Mean to Be Proactive?

Habit 1 teaches students that they are responsible for their own choices, actions, attitudes, and responses. Being proactive means understanding that while we cannot always control what happens around us, we can choose how we respond.

For elementary students, being proactive can be as simple as:

- Getting started on work without repeatedly being reminded

- Taking care of personal belongings and classroom materials

- Making a good choice even when an adult is not watching

- Stopping to think before reacting when upset or frustrated

- Admitting a mistake and working to make it right

- Looking for ways to help others

- Choosing a positive attitude when something does not go as planned

- Focusing on what they can control instead of blaming someone else

These everyday choices help children develop responsibility, independence, self-control, and confidence.

Reinforcing Habit 1 at School

Our teachers and staff can help students strengthen their proactive habits throughout the school day by giving them opportunities to make responsible choices and take ownership of their learning and behavior.

Adults can reinforce Habit 1 by using language such as, “What can you do about it?” “What part of this can you control?” “What would a proactive choice look like?” or “Stop, think, and choose.”

We can also recognize the small moments of leadership we see every day. When a student begins an assignment without being reminded, helps solve a problem, takes responsibility for a mistake, includes another child, or chooses a calm response to a difficult situation, we can point it out and celebrate it as an example of being proactive.

Bringing Habit 1 Home

Families are important partners in helping children understand that leadership does not end when the school day is over. Habit 1 can become part of everyday family routines, too!

Parents and caregivers can encourage children to take age-appropriate responsibility for tasks such as packing their backpack, preparing clothes for the next day, completing homework, keeping track of belongings, helping with household chores, or preparing for activities.

When challenges arise, instead of immediately solving the problem for your child, try asking:

“What can you do to help solve this problem?”

“What choice can you make right now?”

“Is that something you can control?”

“What could you do differently next time?”

One especially helpful strategy is teaching children to use a mental “pause button.” When emotions are high, encourage them to stop, think about their choices, and then decide how they want to respond. This gives children an opportunity to practice self-control rather than simply reacting in the moment.

Building Leaders Together

Developing proactive children takes practice. Students will not always make the perfect choice—and that is part of learning. Each situation gives us another opportunity to help them recognize that their choices matter and that they have the power to make a positive difference.

When families and school staff use the same language and reinforce the same leadership skills, students receive a powerful and consistent message:

I am responsible for me. I can make good choices. I can take initiative. I can choose how I respond. I can be a leader.

Congratulations to all of our Habit 1 Heroes! We are proud to celebrate these Dolphins for showing us what it means to Be Proactive and lead by example. We look forward to watching all of our students continue to grow as leaders at school, at home, and throughout our community! 🐬💙💛