N.O.V.A. Principles (Nurturing, Opportunities, Values, and Accountability) www.novaprinciples.com Illuminating the path to excellence Mission Statement The mission of N.O.V.A. Principles is: Nurturing youth to seek out positive Opportunities, internalize good Values, and to accept Accountability for their choices in life. N.O.V.A. assists parents, families, and communities in protecting youth from the potentially devastating effects of illegal drugs, violence, and negative media exposure. History The N.O.V.A. program was created in March of 2003, by officers from the Orem Department of Public Safety in Utah. In April of 2004, N.O.V.A. Principles LC, was created to allow the N.O.V.A. program to be implemented beyond the confines of the City of Orem. Involvement N.O.V.A. acknowledges the key role of parents and family in keeping youth away from the harmful effects of illegal drugs, violence, and negative media exposure. N.O.V.A. supports parents in this endeavor by teaching youth and also by providing a Parent s program. The N.O.V.A. Parent s program is derived from sound psychological principles to give parents assistance in raising youth in today s world. Parents who participate in and complete the N.O.V.A. Parent s program are awarded a certification of achievement. The Program The N.O.V.A. Principles Elementary program is a 13-15 week program taught at the fifth or sixth grade level by uniformed law enforcement officers. Students who participate in this program receive a N.O.V.A. folder, program material, and can purchase a N.O.V.A. T-shirt at minimal cost. N.O.V.A. Officers spend time with students in the classroom, at lunch, and on the playground building a great rapport between students and officers. The N.O.V.A. Principles Jr. High program is a 4 week program taught at the 7 th or 8 th grade level by uniformed law enforcement officers. Students who participate in this program receive a N.O.V.A. folder, and program material.
Elementary Program Curriculum The following is a brief outline of the elementary program curriculum. One lesson is presented each week for a total program course of 13 to 15 weeks. Lesson 1 - Introduction: The meaning of N.O.V.A. is explained: Nurturing is to encourage positive development and growth. Opportunities are good things that come your way. Values are good principles, ideals, and standards that you believe in and live by. Accountability is being responsible for your actions and the choices you make. Each student is given the opportunity to earn prizes, awards, and a certification of achievement from the N.O.V.A. program if they agree to abide by the N.O.V.A. Commitment Contract which is: Have a positive attitude about the N.O.V.A. program; Show respect and good behavior in class; No illegal drug use; Obey the law; Have good attendance; and Write a personal constitution (see lesson 12). Students receive a N.O.V.A. folder if they promise to respect and take good care of it. The folder is used to put lesson plan material and assignments in it for safe keeping. The N.O.V.A. motto is taught: Illuminating the path to excellence. Students participate in an active learning lesson activity that teaches how important it is to gain knowledge and a good education to become happy, independent and successful. The N.O.V.A. mascot (Wolf) is introduced. The name of the mascot is Polaris, the North Star. Students are taught to look towards the N.O.V.A. Principles program and Polaris the mascot to be a guiding force in their life that stands for everything that is good and to illuminate their path to excellence. The meaning of a N.O.V.A. Lone Wolf is explained. A N.O.V.A. Lone Wolf is a person who has the strength not to follow the crowd when they choose to do wrong. Lesson 2 - Drug Facts: This lesson teaches some basic facts & effects of tobacco, marijuana, alcohol and inhalants such as: Tobacco: The addictive substance in tobacco is nicotine, one of the most addictive drugs on earth. Cigarette smoking kills more than 400,000 people in the U.S. each year. About 3,000 kids start smoking everyday in the U.S.. Tobacco causes heart disease, lung cancer, addiction, tooth decay, respiratory illness, shortness of breath, mouth & throat cancer, and death. Marijuana: Smoking marijuana weakens the body s immune system. Marijuana is both mentally and physically addicting. About 4,700 kids start smoking marijuana everyday in the U.S.. Marijuana effects include poor memory, respiratory illness, paranoia, depression, loss of energy, addiction, slow reflexes, and death. Alcohol: Alcohol is the most abused drug in the U.S.. About 104,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to alcohol effects. Drinking alcohol not only kills brain cells, but it shrinks the brain as well. Effects of alcohol include heart & liver disease, brain damage, addiction, violence, domestic problems, drunkenness, rape, and death. Inhalants: Inhalants are chemical fumes that will make you high if you inhale them. Inhalants are highly addictive and can eat your brain. Inhalants kill by blocking oxygen from getting to our brain. The class participates in an active learning lesson activity where they put on drunk goggles that simulates the effects of being drunk. Drugs do not have a path to excellence, they will only lead to trouble and problems. Lesson 3 - Windows of Opportunities: This lesson discusses Opportunities (good things that come your way), and Accountability (Taking responsibility for your choices and actions). Students are taught that if they want the windows of opportunities to be wide open to them, they need to make good choices and decisions. The first two N.O.V.A. principles, namely, STS (study the situation), and Cause & Effect (when you do something or don t do something, something happens) are introduced. These principles help students realize
the importance of thinking first before they make a choice or decision. There are 2 different active learning lesson activities in this lesson to help reinforce the STS and Cause & Effect principles. Lesson 4 - True Colors: The True Colors (What s right is right, and what s wrong is wrong.), and Lifetime Decisions (Decisions you make that determine your success or failure in life.) principles are introduced. These principles focus on teaching students to make good Lifetime Decisions now. Some major Lifetime Decisions that students are encouraged to make are: To be honest and have integrity; Have a positive attitude; and Have respect for self, others, and things. Students are encouraged to: Say no to things that are harmful, dangerous and wrong; Stand up for what they believe in and value; Don t put themself in bad situations; and Choose good friends. There are 2 different active learning lesson activities in this lesson that help reinforce the True Colors and Lifetime Decisions principles. Project N.O.V.A., an optional assignment is given to the students. Project N.O.V.A. is an assignment where students build, draw, or sculpt a rocket. Students are asked what it takes to put a man on the moon and bring him back to earth safely. They are then asked what it takes for them to become the most successful person they can be. The purpose of Project N.O.V.A. is to get students to think about what it takes for them to be the best person they can be. They are taught that becoming successful won t happen by accident, it will only happen if they make it happen through hard work and dedicated efforts. Lesson 5 - Self Esteem: Feeling good about yourself, liking who you are, avoid giving put-downs to others, and having a positive attitude is an important conduit in order to become happy and successful. Students are told that having an I don t care attitude is poison to their self esteem and success, and that the only antidote is to have an I care attitude. This lesson teaches students how to deal with situations where someone puts them down so that they don t feel bad about themself. Students are taught that it s what s on the inside that counts, and that one of the most important things for everyone to do is to do the best they can with what they have. This lesson reinforces the fact that everyone is special, however, everyone has problems and troubles that they have to deal with. Students are encouraged that they can handle all their troubles and problems, and that there are lots of people who can help them if need be. Students are taught that the biggest issue is not that they have problems or troubles, but the important issues are: How you deal with your problems; What you do to solve your problems; and What can you learn and how you can grow from your troubles and problems. Lesson 6 - Heros: This lesson teaches students that everyone needs a Hero to learn from and pattern their life after. Parents, teachers, relatives, and many other well-known and respected people, both past and present, can be Hero s in their lives. Most things we learn in life we learn from others, even things that seem impossible to accomplish. Hero s can lead, teach and help us become the most successful person we can be. This lesson has several fun problem solving active learning lesson activities to help teach this principle. The Boiling a Frog Analogy (when do you know you re a boiled frog? When it s too late.) is explained. This principle is used to teach students that there are harmful and dangerous things in this world that might not seem too harmful at first, but over time, they have a boiling a frog effect that can become very harmful and dangerous. Lesson 7 - Anger Management: This lesson instructs students how to deal with and control their anger. Students are taught the 3 stages of maturity. Stage 1 maturity: People in Stage 1 do things for selfish reasons. They tend to be demanding, and controlling. They do little to cooperate or communicate. They like to
argue, fight, and bully others. Stage 2 maturity: People in Stage 2 cooperate rather than argue and fight. They cooperate even if they don t want to. They want peace and try to stay out of trouble and work out their problems. They care about how their choices affect others. Stage 3 maturity: People in Stage 3 do the right things for the right reasons. Their decisions are based on good values, and principles. They do service for others, and forgive others who wrong them. They are responsible and disciplined. When students know the differences between each stage, they are then able to choose which stage to be in. Students are encouraged to stay out of stage 1 maturity because it leads to nothing but trouble and problems. Students are taught that no one can MAKE them angry or mad, that is something they choose to do. They are taught that what you think determines how you feel, and that you can change how you feel by changing what you think. The Which wolf are you feeding? (Which wolf is stronger? The one you feed.) principle is introduced. This principle is derived from an old Indian legend where an Indian Grandfather explains to his Grandson that inside of him lives 2 Wolves, one that is filled with hate, anger, and violence, and the other filled with goodness, kindness, and love. Students are encouraged to only feed their good, kind, and loving wolf. Students are given anger management tools to help them manage anger when they get mad. The foundation for this lesson was derived from the moral development model created by YRI (Youth Reclamation Inc.. www.youthreclamation.com). Lesson 8 - Teasing and Bullying: This lesson explains the difference between friendly teasing and mean spirited teasing. Friendly teasing is done to friends and is harmless joking and kidding around. Mean spirited teasing is teasing that s meant to hurt someone s feelings and put someone down. Students are advised not to tease anyone in a mean spirited way. Students participate in an active learning lesson activity that teaches them how not to let the mean spirited teasing of others bother them This lesson also explains the difference between mean spirited teasing and bullying. Bullying is a crime that involves threatening, assault, vandalism, theft or robbery. Students are told to report bullying and are given guidelines on how to deal with bullies. Mean spirited teasing and bullying do not have a path to excellence. Lesson 9 - Media Part 1 (T.V., Movies, & Video Games): This first media lesson focuses on T.V., movies, and video games. Though there is much that is good with T.V., movies, and video games, much of it is violent, vulgar, indecent and obscene. Safe T.V., Movie, and Video Game guidelines are taught. The Garbage in Garbage out (What you put in is what you get out.) principle is introduced. Students are taught to be careful about the type of media that they view or play as the negative effects of harmful and offensive media can cause undesirable effects. Because there is graphic and gratuitous violence, as well as vulgar and obscene material in movies and video games, rating systems have been created to protect children and youth from these harmful and offensive things. Students are taught to take the rating systems seriously and to research the content of movies and video games before they watch, play or purchase them. This lesson also teaches students about neural pathways. Neural pathways are shortcuts that your brain creates to do things faster and more efficiently. Students are taught that your brain can create good and bad neural pathways, and that if they allow bad neural pathways to be created in their brain such as: Stealing, Lying, Swearing, Violence, Vulgarity, or Drugs, these neural pathways become bad habits that are hard to break and can lead to addiction. The N.O.V.A. Pack challenge is explained in this lesson. N.O.V.A. Pack is an optional assignment where students forgo T.V., Movies, and Video games for seven straight days. The purpose of this assignment is to show students that there are better things to do than wasting time watching and playing media that is harmful and destructive. Watching or playing violent, vulgar, indecent and obscene media does not have a path to excellence and
should be avoided. Lesson 10 - Media Part 2: The focus of this media lesson is on the Internet. Because approximately 75% of sixth grade students report that they have a computer connected to the Internet at home, this lesson on Internet safety becomes very important. Safe Internet guidelines are taught. In every city in America, there are good places to visit and good people to meet. However, there are dangerous places to avoid and dangerous people to stay away from as well. Students are taught that the Internet or Cyber City is the same. There are dangerous places and people on the Internet that they should stay away from, namely pornography sites, and predators. Just as a fishing lure attracts fish to take a bite and get hooked, there are those who want children and youth to get hooked on Internet pornography. These people are devious and will do anything to get kids and adults to view and seek out this harmful and offensive material. Any responsible parent who has a toddler will baby proof their home to keep the toddler safe from harmful and dangerous Lures around the house. So must we as responsible parents who have home computers connected to the Internet Baby proof the computer to keep everyone safe from the lures of harmful and obscene web sites from being accessed or Popping up. Children and teens who visit teen chat rooms is another major safety concern. Predators seeking unsuspecting youth go into teen chat rooms with the express purpose to find their next victim to harm. Students are taught to stay out of chat rooms. With the anonymity of the Internet, there is no way to know who you are talking to in a chat room, and as children and youth have been taught not to talk to strangers, why do so in a chat room. Just by signing in to a teen chat room, it is possible for a predator to find out who you are, where you live, where you go to school, and to obtain a map or your neighborhood, all within 45 minutes! This lesson would not have been necessary 20 years ago. However, due to this contemporary issue, and the fact that the average age of exposure to internet pornography is 11 years old, it becomes absolutely necessary. Viewing pornography does not have a path to excellence and should be avoided at all costs. Lesson 11 - Media Part 3: This last media lesson is about music awareness and how music can have a positive or negative influence depending on the type of music a person listens to. We are fortunate today to have so much wonderful music that has been handed down to us over the centuries, music that is soothing, uplifting, and enlightening. However, much of the music of today is dark, depressing, filled with hate, violence, vulgarity, and obscene lyrics. This negative side of music is destructive, offensive and harmful to all who listen to it. To prevent children and teens from listening to this type of music, a Parental Advisory Warning system has been created. However, this system is only voluntary at this time, so music CD s without a Parental Advisory Warning label on it doesn t necessarily mean the CD is without offensive and harmful material. Students are advised to research the lyrics to a song before they listen to it or buy it to be sure it doesn t have harmful and offensive lyrics. Students are advised not to attend concerts where groups or singers perform dark, depressing, hatefilled, violent, vulgar, or obscene materia music. These concerts are ALWAYS plagued by drugs, violence, vulgar, destruction and or obscenities. Students are encouraged to listen to music that is soothing, peaceful, uplifting and enlightening as a way to motivate and encourage a positive outlook on life. Listening to music that is dark, depressing, violent, vulgar, or obscene does not have a path to excellence and should be avoided. Lesson 12 - N.O.V.A. Constitution: In order for students to earn a certification of achievement from the N.O.V.A. program, they are required to write a personal constitution. This constitution becomes a governing document to give them direction and focus in life as to what they wish to accomplish. Students are encouraged to include some or all of
the following subjects in their personal constitution: Standards they want to set for themself; The things they value; Opportunities they want to take advantage of that will lead them to the path of excellence; and Things that they want to avoid. Students are given the opportunity to read their constitution in class if they wish. Lesson 13 - The Challenge: If the teaching schedule allows, this fun and challenging active learning lesson can be used to help review and solidify the N.O.V.A. principles that have been taught. This lesson focuses on making good choices and the necessity of getting a good education. Lesson 14 - K-9 Assembly: Law enforcement agencies that have a K-9 unit have the option of putting on a special K-9 assembly. This assembly is to demonstrate how K-9 s are utilized to help Law enforcement. Lesson 15 - Certification Program: Students who complete all the necessary requirements of the N.O.V.A. program receive a certification of achievement during a special certification program.