It takes more than ABCs and 123s to guide a child to success. At Highlands Elementary School, a program called The Leader in Me has been helping give kids skills that they can draw on throughout their lives. On February 24 the school administration opened HES’ doors to adults interested in education and let the students demonstrate their successes, learned as the Leader in Me program was included in the school’s social studies program. This is the third year for the successful program. The program, based on seven habits essential to solid growth in all areas of life, has made a huge difference in the character of the entire student body and in individual students. To start out, students chose Leadership clubs according to their own likes and needs and teachers chose to lead these groups according to their own experience and likes and students, in turn, chose which group appealed most to them. That morning fifth grader Jai Boney welcomed the visitors and Principal Laura Mendicino explained the plans for the day, filled with campus tours and classroom visits. Student Ambassadors led groups of adults to various classrooms to witness first-hand the education process using the Seven Habits of Happy Kids. To round out the day, the Highlands Choir treated their adult guests to joyful and patriotic musical selections. The Seven Habits are: Habit 1: Be Proactive Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind Habit 3: Put first things first Habit 4: Think win-win Habit 5: See first to understand, then to be understood Habit 6: Synergize Habit 7: Sharpen the saw