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Middle schoolers focus decisions

By ALISHA CALL
USD 470

Arkansas City seventh and eighth graders learned about making decisions that will affect their lives Friday in a program called "FOCUS."

FOCUS is an annual "decision making day," at the middle school.

FOCUS began as a way to include the state required Human Sexuality and AIDS curriculum. Ann Headrick, academic coach and sponsor of the event, said by presenting the curriculum through FOCUS, the students receive a much larger impact. She said they also don't get bored as easily because they are constantly changing rooms and hearing different speakers on different topics.

"The whole idea behind this is we want the students to focus on their future and take actions now that will help them later in life," she said.

Parents of the students are given a packet with detailed information ahead of time regarding the topics to be presented. Parents then have the opportunity to request their child not participate.

All day, the students attended different sessions where speakers touched on topics of relevance to teens such as sex, pregnancy, violence, gangs, drugs and suicide. Each of the speakers focused primarily on the consequences of the actions people take.

"The day has gone really well," Headrick said. "The speakers were positive and the kids were attentive." "In the age of technology it's often hard to make an impact on kids but I think we've done that today," she said.

One speaker, Joe Coles, typically charges a $1,000 speaking fee. This time, he lowered the cost to $500 and will donate that money to the Jodi Sanderholm memorial scholarship fund at Cowley College. Headrick said Coles wanted to help the community cope with the fear and disbelief after the loss of Jodi in January.

Coles is a recognized leader on the topic of bullying and has trained parents and educators across the region how to intervene in bullying situations. His presentation was titled "Three R's in Bullying."

The STOP Violence Coalition from the Winfield Correctional Facility presented "Choices and Consequences." Students heard personal testimonies regarding the effects of violence and the impact of using drugs and alcohol when making decisions.

Officer Narciso Narvais, member of the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department and Gang Task Force, talked about how to resist the gang culture as well as what the realistic image of gangs are as opposed to the image portrayed in the media.

Eighth graders heard "Hidden Crisis: The Power to Prevent." Middle school counselor, Sarah O'Donnell, talked about suicide prevention, the warning signs and other self-destructive behaviors such as cutting and the "choking game."

Rob Simon, entertainer, educator and advocate, spoke on "High Stuff, Sly Stuff and Try Stuff." Simon focused on the danger of alcohol and substance abuse and how to prevent it.

Students also participated in discussions regarding Meth, making healthy relationship choices and abstinence.

Miss Kansas, Michelle Walthers was the special guest for the wrap-up assembly. She shared her insights on the importance of good family relationships and not using tobacco. Walthers encouraged the students to "ignore bad peer pressure and find the people who are giving good peer pressure instead."