Choose Health Program

Substance Abuse Education/Prevention
(A Component of Yorktown’s SEL Program)

The educational program at Yorktown focuses on the development of the whole child by providing a first-rate academic education to each student, and by focusing on their social and emotional development also. Yorktown’s school-wide social-emotional learning (SEL) program has been part of the school’s mission for over ten years, and has continually evolved over that time.

One aspect of SEL at Yorktown is “Choose Health”, a multi-faceted school and classroom initiative for students and parents, designed to help raise awareness and educate the community on the issues surrounding alcohol and drug use by adolescents.

School-wide/Classroom:

• Project Success Bulletin Boards for Education with Catalyst for Conversation Monthly Themes
• Basic Drug/Alcohol Information
• Health Curriculum
  • Specific units to include hands-on activities; guest speakers
• Class Presentations
• Spring Senior Assembly (1 or 2)
  • Panel with medical personnel, addiction specialist, person in recovery, etc
  • Presentations and Questions/answers
• School Participant, Above the Influence  (Partnership for Drug Free Kids)

Staff

• Substance Abuse Counselor:  Laurel Cerrud
• Nurse: Gigi Bates
• Health Teachers
• Substance Abuse Counselor:  Laurel Cerrud
• Counseling (Peggy Brennan) and  Assets Coordinator

Student Athletes/Activities:

• Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) – school sponsored activity and events
• Patriot Athletic Council – Student-Athlete leaders involved in education and assisting with team awareness
• Coaches Leadership -€“ conversations with students/team at start of season led by coaches and DSA

Staff

• Director of Activities: Michael Krulfeld
• Assistant Director of Activities: Stephanie Meadows

Parents:

• Fall Parent Meeting: What you need to know about adolescents and alcohol/drugs and where to go for help/resources
• Community of Concern: School member and parent resources will be distributed in the fall
• PTA – Fall meeting Principal explains components of  Choose Health program and invites parent participation in activities
• Website for Parents

Staff

• Counseling
• READY coalition
• Assistant DSA
• Principal and PTA President
• Substance Abuse Counselor