Liberty Elementary School is taking family engagement and student well-being to the next level through Project CREST, a Utah State University Extension initiative in collaboration with the Salt Lake County Health Department. 

The program is designed to enhance student resilience, strengthen family connections and improve academic outcomes through community connections, said Amy Torres, Utah State University program coordinator.

“Project CREST stands for creating resilient and engaged student teams,” she said. “Where the schools’ main goal is to help them thrive academically, it takes a lot more than that. We have to help support families and the students.”

Torres said by offering research-based programs tailored to each school’s unique needs, Project CREST helps students and parents develop the social, emotional and behavioral skills that support lifelong learning and success.

“We have a menu of different topics, but we’re going to tailor it to the school the best we can,” she said. “Your issues here are going to be different than they are at another school. We also address how parents support their kids, teaching them skills.”

At Liberty Elementary, Project CREST facilitators are working with the school’s leadership, educators and families to create a collaborative environment where everyone learns together. The program includes family workshops, student activities and parent sessions. The kickoff focused on emotional regulation, friendship skills and healthy communication.

Topics include self-regulation, naming emotions, friendship-building and understanding brain development — all crucial in helping adults set realistic expectations and guidance for their children.

“We need resources like this to help the school and families connect on how to better serve our kids,” Principal Shana Mondragon said.

Parents attending the workshops agree. 

Darla Demann and William Hartman, parents of two fifth graders and a second grader, came to the opening session.

“It was just a good opportunity to maybe have some good family bonding,” Demann said. “I hope what we learn will help us at home.”

Hartman added: “It’s about bonding and see what advice they have.”

After a dinner together, they broke out into sessions — younger and older student groups and one for adults.

During the student breakout sessions, Utah State coordinators Becky Whittaker and Torres worked with students on emotional regulation and friendship skills. 

Whittaker guided students through a lesson on managing anger, using a balloon as a metaphor.

“Maybe you get upset and angry, and you feel like you’re going to burst like this balloon,” she said as she filled the balloon with air. “What happens when you need to stop getting angry? How do you let air out of the balloon?”

Students shared strategies such as deep breathing, counting to 10, exercising and taking a break in a safe space. 

Whittaker slowly let out the air in the balloon with each answer and said, “It’s totally OK to say, ‘I just need a minute and then we’ll talk.’”

Meanwhile, Torres led another group in a discussion about friendship.

“We are going to learn today what makes a good friend,” she said.

Students suggested finding a bandage if they get a scrape from falling, cheering someone on, laughing at the friend’s jokes and saying, “I’m sorry.”

Parents in a separate session explored temperament and how personality differences affect friendships and behavior. The instructor encouraged empathy and understanding.

“Sometimes there are things that we literally cannot change about ourselves,” she said. “I also want parents to understand this because, in a way, you will have empathy for them and help them navigate this.”

Mondragon said the grant-funded partnership has opened new doors for families.

“Through this program, we’re able to provide opportunities for the families to be engaged in what we’re doing at school, and how to support their kids’ social-emotional skills,” she said. “This is the golden ticket to learn all this.”

Mondragon hopes Project CREST’s ongoing work at Liberty Elementary will help students and families build the emotional and social foundations that support learning in the classroom and in life.