The Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol held the first meeting of the school year on September 16, 2009. Mr. Klemme began by discussing prom 2009. He reported that both the pre-prom party at the high school and the prom were successful events with no incidences. An incident involving drugs did occur at a post prom party. Post prom activities are not sanctioned by the school district. Mr. Klemme announced that the 2010 prom will be held at the Trump Golf Club in Briarcliff. Discussions exploring ways in which to keep the post prom parties in Westchester County are underway with the prom committee and student government. Mr. Klemme will be sending out a letter regarding spring break shortly to the parents of seniors addressing the dangers of unsupervised travel for teens.Detective Miraglia from the Scarsdale Police Department spoke about the DWI simulator which will be used as a teaching tool for teen drivers at the high school. It will be on site the week prior to spring break. Halloween dos and don'ts will be discussed during freshman seminars. Detective Miraglia strongly encourages all parents to contact the police department if they are going to be away and their teen(s) are going to home. He said the police will drive by to check on the house. Call the police department’s nonemergency phone number 722-1200 to request the drive by.SHS Youth Outreach Worker Lauren Pomerantz introduced her new colleague Terry Frank. Lauren spoke about the outstanding job the peer counselors and civ ed advisors did helping with the newly expanded orientation for freshman. A new parenting group is starting for parents of children with special needs. The adventure trips for teens were well attended this summer and so popular that a second week was added. The Young Men in Leadership Program has reconvened for the school year. Participants are 7th and 8th graders. High school age boys participate by helping with the program.Tashica Clarke program director for the Teen Center reported that the recently held reopening was well attended. A substance free Halloween party will be held at the Teen Center.The Task Force will host coffees for 8th and 9th grade parents beginning in late October/early November. The monthly factoid will be posted on the Task Force web site and also sent out via the high school PTA email list. The alcohol poisoning cards will be discussed and distributed to the freshman class. The booklet “A Parent’s Guide for the Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use” will be sent to 6th and 9th grade parents. The Task Force has a new web site: http://www.scarsdaletaskforce.org/ The Task Force is working on securing speakers and/or a panel addressing the topics of prescription drug abuse and driving high. The additional topic of distractions while driving was suggested and will be explored. The web site http://www.journeysafe.org/ targets the topic of distractions while driving.Respectfully submitted,Lisa Dodge
Mr. Klemme announced that the letter to parents of seniors regarding prom safety has been sent out. He reiterated that communication between parents and kids is the best way to approach prom safety issues. He also mentioned that the junior class is continuing to look in Westchester for sites for the 2010 prom.
SHS Youth Outreach Worker Lauren Pomerantz has been working with a subcommittee of the 9th grade student government focusing on substance use prevention and good decision-making. She plans to have peer leaders run discussions with freshman in the second half of the academic year when these issues typically surface for 9th graders. Youth Outreach Worker Matthew Zysman is leaving SFCS.
The Scarsdale Teen Center’s Adult Night of Rock spring fundraiser is Saturday, May 16 at Vintage Restaurant in White Plains. Also, STC will host their annual Memorial Day Music Fest Saturday, May 23 in Chase Park with a bike rodeo at 4pm and music beginning at 6pm.
The Task Force completed 6th/7th grade coffees with 60 parents attending five coffees. This year the task force had over 200 parents attend coffees for 6th-12th grades representing the largest “coffee” outreach effort to date.
The Task Force received the Open Door Award from SFCS.
The slate of the Task Force Executive Board was announced:
Co-Chairs: Geralyn DellaCava, Robin Gottleib
Co Vice Chairs: Kathy Cutlip, Jill Serling
Treasurer: Melissa Hellman
Secretary: Joy Brownstein
Ann Sacher and Tina Adler are rotating off the executive board after many years of service. Ann thanked Tina and everyone for making the experience valuable. Jill Serling thanked Ann and Tina for their leadership.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Brodsky
Neil Ginzberg, a SHS Social Studies teacher, spoke about a new pilot program to provide HS students continuing education about making better decisions vis a vis drugs and alcohol. The 3-4 session program will be offered to freshman student government representatives and officers. It will be given by Emilie Sciarpilletti from the SHS Health Department and the Youth Outreach Workers. If the program is successful it will be expanded to the entire 9th grade next year.
There was a brief discussion about the results of the Alcohol.edu program and the survey of the 2007/08 9th graders. To take alcohol.edu course please go to http://highschool.alcoholedu.com/login.asp. The log-in for parents is: 8HH28443PARENT.
On March 9, The Scarsdale Coalition on Family Violence held a symposium on relationship violence for 9th graders. The content was further discussed in English, Social Studies and Civ Ed classes.
Mr, Klemme, the HS principal, spoke about disciplinary consequences for athletes and the fairness process. He stated that there are on-going reviews of individuals and appropriate discipline but for privacy reasons the outcomes are not divulged. Secondly, he is sending out a letter to parents regarding alternative post-prom activities. A third topic he and the administration are addressing is internet safety regarding predators and how peers relate to one another on-line.
The Scarsdale Youth Outreach Workers informed us that there are 50 new Peer Counselors from the 10th grade. There is a new Youth Outreach Worker at SMS, Tim Nelson.
The Teen Center continues to experience increases in attendance. On Saturday, March 28 from 2-6, the Teen Center will be hosting a Summer Job Fair. On May 16, they will hold their annual Fundraiser.
The Task Force will be hosting 6th and 7th grade Parent Coffees in April. Registration will be by e-mail.
Respectfully submitted,
Beth Ehrich Berkeley
The meeting began with a guest speaker, Sara Levine, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., whose specialty is adolescent medicine and substance abuse. Dr. Levine explained that adolescence is considered from 11 year to 21 years of age. During this period many things can go wrong, ranging from getting hurt, getting caught, pregnancy, making stupid decisions, injuries, death, AIDS, failure at school, and regret. Dr. Levine cited a number of statistics, including 4 leading causes of death in this age group; 48% due to accidents, 15% due to homicide, 12% due to suicide, and 5% due to cancer. Other statistics mentioned were from a YRBS high school study conducted, 45% of the students polled had used alcohol in the past month, 26% had episodic heavy drinking (binge drinking), and 20% had used marijuana in the last month. Dr. Levine felt that binge drinking increases the likelihood of bad decisions being made. For example it increases the likeliness of sexual behavior, dating violence, drug use, and suicide.
Dr. Levine offered a top ten list for parents of teens:
• Make your values known.
• Use every opportunity to talk. Don’t wait to be asked. Provide anticipatory guidance.
• Stay involved. Make time to spend together.
• Set limits. For parties, call parents to ask what’s being served. Know where your child is, whom they are with and what they are doing. Don’t overextend your kids.
• If you threaten a consequence for an unwanted action, follow through.
• Role play for situations that may arise, but realize teens are concrete, and may not generalize.
• Increase freedom and responsibility as maturity increases.
• If you see a problem, address it as soon as possible.
• Set a good example and demonstrate how you deal with your chores, your stress, and your food.
• Take your teen to the doctor for a checkup once a year. This is an opportunity for your child to interface with another respected adult to assure they are physically and psychologically developing well, and to use as a resource for information.
Additionally, Dr. Levine suggested promoting connectedness. Create a sense of belonging to family, to school (adults who care), to friends (peer groups). It is also a good idea to provide opportunities for students to remain safe by enabling them to blame parents (e.g. ‘my mom says I have to go home right now!’)
Dr. Sara Levine can be contacted at 203-532-1919
Mr. Klemme spoke about the Prom and specifically, post Prom. He is encouraging class officers to come up with a list of safe alternatives in lieu of the parties at clubs in Manhattan. There is a letter being sent out to the parents addressing this issue. Mr. Klemme mentioned that the junior class is receptive to having the Prom in Westchester. Mr. Klemme also mentioned the coffee he is facilitating for 11th grade parents on Jan 21.
The Youth Outreach Workers announced that Leah Kaplan will be resigning. Her baby is due imminently. Leah Kaplan has worked as a Youth Outreach Worker for 5 years. She will continue to run 5th grade parent groups.
Scarsdale and Edgemont Family Council recently mailed out a newsletter. An article on binge drinking appeared in the newsletter. Andrew Weisfeld (YOW) discussed the adventure trips being held during the upcoming summer months of July and August. There will be an informational session on February 25. The Gourmet Galaxy will be held on May 5, and the Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol will be the award recipient.
Congratulations were given to Tashica Clarke who is the new head of the Teen Center. The center had 330 students attend during December. Jabberwocky hosted an event at the center. Coming up there will be an art show, a midnight breakfast and an introduction session to new members.
The annual coffees facilitated by the Youth Outreach Workers for parents of 10th grade are currently being organized and these will be held on Feb 3 and 4, and Feb 10 and 12. Coffees for parents of 6th and 7th grade will be held at the end of March/beginning of April.
Diane Levy will chair the Nominating Committee for the Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol. Please contact her with potential nominees.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Levy
Mr. Klemme began by discussing the recent 12th grade parent meeting at Liz Gruber’s house, where the topic of post-prom activities was raised. Some parents felt that high school seniors who are off to college in a few months are basically adults and should be responsible for their own choice of activities. Other parents expressed that mandatory post-prom busing back to Scarsdale will help curtail some of the problems of previous years. Mr. Klemme is meeting with the Senior Class officers next week to get their input.
Mr. Klemme has met with the junior class officers and they are receptive to the idea of holding the prom in Westchester next year. Changing the date/day is also up for discussion.
The Youth Outreach Workers, Dr. Collabolletta and Mr. Klemme all concur that parents need to have discussions with their children about expectations and consequences. There is a limit to what the school can do to deter the events that occur after the prom.
SHS Youth Outreach Worker Lauren Pomerantz said that the 11th/12th grade and 8th/9th grade coffees were well attended. SFCS is also starting a grandparent support group as well as a group for empty nesters.
Jessica Edelman, the Director of the Scarsdale Teen Center will be leaving in December. A search has started for a replacement. Assistant Director Tashica Clarke will keep the STC operational in the interim. STC recently held a forum on election issues for new voters, an Internet safety and abduction prevention workshop and two concerts, including one on Halloween. The Visions of Community event will be held on December 7th at STC.
Parents of middle and high school students have received the booklet, “A Parent’s Guide for the Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use.”
The PT Council has arranged for Dr. Madeline Levine to speak at SHS on Monday, April 27 at 7:30pm. Dr. Levine is the author of The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage Are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Brodsky
The Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol met on September 17th for the
opening meeting of the school year. Mr. Klemme spoke about the fact
that Spring Break 2009 is already a topic of conversation among
seniors. He will be sending a letter to the parents shortly to warn
them of the dangers of unsupervised travel. He also told the group
that he had been approached by a group of parents about past behavior
at the senior prom. A discussion ensued about possible changes to
the prom to help mitigate inappropriate behavior in the future. A
committee is being established to look into changes to the structure
for future years.
The Youth Outreach Workers said that over 700 parents have signed up
of parent support groups this year. Anyone interested in joining a
group should contact Emily Valario at the Middle School as soon as
possible. They are planning a fall family fair and truck day
scheduled for October 4th, with a rain date of October 5th. The
Middle School has put in place a program to reach out to newcomers.
Parent coffees will again be held in the fall for 8th/9th grade
parents and in the spring for 6th/7th grade parents and 10th grade
parents.
The Teen Center is planning a blood drive and they are currently
working on Halloween night activities and a spring break trip. On
October 16th the teen center is hosting an internet safety and
abduction presentation.
The Task Force will hand out alcohol poising cards to all 9thgraders
during the fall in freshman seminars. The Task Force is also
planning on distributing a Substance Abuse Book in the fall. It will
be distributed to all Middle and High School families.
Respectfully submitted,
Meg Goodman