Focus: Empowering students to make good choices in the present moment.

Every day Is a chance to choose character.

Middle school is a critical period in adolescent development, where students are forming the values, habits, and interpersonal skills that will guide them through high school and beyond. As academic expectations increase and social dynamics become more complex, students need more than just content knowledge—they need character.

The PAT program was developed to support students in becoming respectful, responsible, and resilient individuals. PAT, which stands for Positive Actions Today, is designed to build a shared language around positive behavior, promote social-emotional growth, and foster a strong sense of community within the school.

By integrating PAT into Patriot Period, students are given regular opportunities to reflect, engage in meaningful discussions, participate in team-building activities, and connect their learning to real-life situations. Ultimately, PAT helps create a school climate where students are not only held accountable but inspired to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. 

The PAT period will also consist of the following programs incorporated once a month.

1. Demonstrate Positive Character and Leadership in All Areas of School Life
   During PAT Periods, students will reflect on and apply the values of Pride, Accountability, and Trust by participating in character-building discussions and activities that strengthen their decision-making, empathy, and leadership skills.

2. Develop a Lifelong Love for Reading and Build Strong Literacy Habits
   Through monthly Patriot Pages sessions, students will engage in self-selected reading, foster focus and imagination, and contribute to a schoolwide culture that values literacy across all subjects and communities.

3. Practice Self-Awareness and Healthy Habits That Support Well-Being and Learning
   During PAT Pause Days, students will explore tools for emotional regulation, mindfulness, and stress management to improve their overall wellness, which supports personal growth and academic success.

Patriot Pages is our new monthly reading initiative designed to build a strong reading culture across our school. Once a month, the entire school community, students, teachers, and staff, will pause to "drop everything and read" at the same time. Whether it's a novel, magazine, graphic novel, or nonfiction article, students are encouraged to read something they enjoy and get lost in the pages.

This program supports more than just literacy—it promotes focus, imagination, empathy, and a lifelong love of reading. By dedicating time for independent reading during the school day, we’re showing that reading is not just for Language Arts class—it’s for everyone, every subject, and every future.

Aligned with our P.A.T. program, Patriot Pages also reinforces the idea that reading builds the habits of strong, independent thinkers and responsible citizens.

Once a month, our school will take a PAT Pause—a dedicated wellness day focused on helping students reset, reflect, and recharge. These days support the core values of our PAT Character Education Program by encouraging students to care for themselves, connect with others, and develop healthy habits that promote lifelong well-being.

PAT Pause Days are more than a break from routine, they’re a chance to build emotional resilience, strengthen social skills, and promote positive decision-making. Through hands-on, engaging activities, students learn to manage stress, foster empathy, and take pride in their personal growth.

These days can also be used to complete any P.A.T. lessons and assignments from previous weeks so that each homeroom receives their P.A.T. badges.