CASAC Prevention Educators, Leslie Biancoand Alex Rodriguez, work with Fletcher Elementary School fourth grade students as part of their “Too Good” Program. Submitted photo

“What is a decision booster?” asked CASAC (Chautauqua Alcohol & Substance Abuse Council) Prevention Educator, Leslie Bianco, to Fletcher Elementary School fourth graders.

“It’s someone who says you can do it,” said a student.

“Yes, it’s someone who supports and encourages you to accomplish your goals,” said Ms. Bianco. “So we like goal boosters! What might a decision booster do?”

“Help you make decisions!”

“Yes, a decision booster is someone who will help you make the right decision. They are someone who will stop and make you think about the consequences that you might face, whether good or bad, and support you to make a choice that is best for you. Do you make a decision for your friends? No, you make the best decision for you.”

Ms. Bianco, along with fellow Prevention Educator Alex Rodriguez, visited Fletcher Elementary School as part of their “Too Good” Program. This is the second year that CASAC has presented at Fletcher Elementary School. “Too Good” is a new program for the third and fourth grade classes. It focuses on goal setting, decision-making, conflict resolution, managing emotions, bonding and relationships, communication skills, community involvement and drug awareness.

“Too Good” is an eight to 10-week program, once a week for 40 minutes at each grade level. CASAC will work with the other grade levels at Fletcher School starting in January. For kindergarten, first and second grades, they will give half-hour programs each week, utilizing a puppet, which ensures engagement and fun. Students who are receiving the “Too Good” Program role-play and participate in games and activities that focus on building their life skills and tools so that they can live a happy, healthy and safe life.

“The ‘Too Good’ Program is an essential program for prevention of not only drug and alcohol abuse, but also for other risky behaviors including bullying,” said Laurie Reynolds, Associate Director of CASAC. “It has been shown that this program actually helps improve students’ academics. We are very excited to not only be in Fletcher Elementary School, but the other schools in the Jamestown School District. This has been an amazing partnership.”