COLUMBUS — Students in Columbus City Schools are learning new ways to communicate while helping each other through a new initiative.

Students from Briggs, Beechcroft, Walnut Ridge and Mifflin High Schools spent three days learning about each other, how each communicates, and what practices could be used to respond differently as situations arise. It’s what AJ Crabill calls tools in the toolbox.

“When students are in situations where previously something might have escalated,” Crabill said. “Maybe they can figure out how to talk through things, or their peers can work with them to talk through things such that doesn’t escalate.”

Crabill leads the Student-Led Restorative Practice program. It’s something that not only gives students a chance to reflect on their own responses to situations, but an opportunity to see how they can help others, too.

“Now I understand maybe some of the things I should’ve taken differently and some of the people I should have said some different things and take different actions,” said student Benjamin Bellomy.

While the program is designed to build skill sets, and allow students to identify their own feelings and what they need as a result, Crabill sees the program as a way to help adults, too.

“We don’t really have the staff power to be available for all of the conversations that might be necessary to help students get through their day,” said Crabill. “But if we can deputize student leaders who we’ve trained and they have that skill set and they can develop that capacity, then they can help lead those critical conversations.”

In the meantime, students say they hope they get the support they need to thrive. As training continues, the goal is to expand the program so that trained student leaders can train their peers from high school down to the elementary school level district-wide.