How Highland Middle School Uses CharacterStrong to Build Belonging, Boost Readiness, and Elevate the Start of the School Day
Middle school is a uniquely challenging phase for students and for the educators who support them. As one Highland leader put it, “Middle level students are emotional, social roller coasters.”
Teachers in the middle grades often don’t receive training that fully prepares them for the developmental needs of 11–13 year olds. “We forget that even though they look older, they’re still coming to us as children, as babies,” one staff member shared.
At Highland Middle School, this gap was leading to inconsistent relationship-building, uneven routines, and a need for more intentional belonging work throughout the day.
What they wanted was clear:
Stronger student sense of belonging
More consistent, developmentally appropriate relationship-building
A unified approach that supported both teachers and students
A calmer, more connected start to each day
CharacterStrong became the platform that made it possible.
Highland partnered with CharacterStrong to provide explicit, developmentally aligned instruction that equips teachers with the skills they need to build relationships and communication routines with students.
“CharacterStrong was the one platform that gave our teachers the tools they needed to improve relationships with our students.”
With collaboration between leadership and the counseling team, the school built a shared focus: prioritizing belonging from the moment students walk through the door.
Highland implemented a schoolwide soft start routine, a gentle transition into the day that helps students enter feeling calm, safe, and ready to learn.
CharacterStrong became a core part of that start.
Students begin with activities they enjoy, time to breathe, settle, and reconnect with peers and teachers. Staff described it as a “game changer”:
A consistent reset for students
A unifying moment between peers and teachers
A calmer atmosphere throughout the building
Three years in, teachers now look forward to this time and see it as essential to student readiness. Some even say it’s their favorite part of the day.
A Moment That Says It All
During a recent CharacterStrong walkthrough, Principal Green and a visiting team saw the impact firsthand.
A sixth-grade student entered visibly upset. “You could just see it on her face, she was carrying a heavy load,” District Leader, Leandra Torra shared.
But as the CharacterStrong lesson began, a lighthearted discussion about “tater tots vs. French fries” — her group started sharing, laughing, connecting. Within minutes, she sat up. Then she participated. By the end of the lesson, she was raising her hand, smiling, fully engaged.
Preparing Teachers, Supporting Students
Highland leaders emphasized that motivation comes from relationships, students feeling connected, seen, and respected.
“No matter if you’re brand new or have been teaching for 25 years, having the ability to relate to students is really important. A curriculum like this gives teachers a go-to resource to help students engage.”
Intentional character education is now a non-negotiable part of Highland’s approach.
“It can’t be on the back burner. It has to be intentionally planned for. That’s why we start every day with it.”
What’s Possible When Belonging Comes First
Highland’s story shows what can happen when a school invests in the social and emotional foundation students need especially during the crucial middle level years:
Calmer, more connected mornings
Stronger teacher–student relationships
Increased student engagement
More predictable routines that support every learner
Principal Vanessa Green stated, “Character education really is what should drive the school.”
Want to learn how CharacterStrong can make a different at your school? Book a call with our team here to get started today!