FLORENCE, Ala. — For the second year, an initiative at Forrest Hills Elementary School was recognized as a Character.org Promising Practice.

There are lots of employees at schools, but not all of them get to see students walking into their classrooms every morning. The Adopt-an-Employee program was put into place to make sure everyone felt connected.

The program allows all Forest Hills classes to draw an employee’s name out of a bucket and whoever that lucky winner is, the kids show love to them for the month of February.

Principal Laurie Fowler said she is excited that that the Promising Practice is helping to build the school’s character and foster positive relationships.

 “We’re really excited because that just reinforces that in our journey to becoming a school of character, the practices we’re putting in place are working,” Fowler said.

Forest Hills’ Promising Practice from last year focused on its virtues that are taught to students monthly.

According to Character.org, a Promising Practice usually contains three components:

• The program or practice is often a unique and innovative approach that promotes a particular character strength (or several)
• The program or practice often involves multiple stakeholders (e.g,, students, staff, parents, community members)
• The program or practice aligns with a school or organization’s core values and at least one of our 11 Principles