SAFE AND DRUG FREE SCHOOLS

DRUG FREE - SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAMMING

Vermilion School District has a long and proactive history of intervention programming directed toward drug and alcohol abuse.  Our district was the first in the area to implement mandatory drug testing for students involved in extra-curricular activities and who drive to school.  For many years the schools have worked cooperatively with local agencies, the Vermilion Police Department and the school Resource Officer to fight against abuse of illegal substances. 

Counselors in all of our buildings work tirelessly to provide educational and peer leadership activities aimed at prevention of drug and alcohol use.  Teams of administrators and counselors work together to choose programs and training that have been proven to be successful in many communities.  Vermilion High School counselors recruit student leaders for anti-bullying and drug prevention activities through Link Crew, Move 2 Stand, and Olweus Anti-Bullying programs.  A full list of intervention and educational activities offered throughout the year is at the end of this article. 

In addition to in-school programming, the district has developed cooperative agreements with professional agencies in both Lorain and Erie Counties, such as LCADA, Genesis House and Firelands Counseling and Recovery Services to provide services and training to Vermilion students.  These organizations are well respected as leaders in the fight against alcohol and drug abuse. 

We will continue our fight against the unprecedented rise in drug abuse in the local area.  Our priority is to continue to work with local law enforcement and drug prevention agencies to do everything we can to protect our students from the devastating effects of substance abuse.  We invite parents and community members to speak with our counseling team for more information on ways you can help.

Safe and Drug Free Schools Programming 2017-2018

Vermilion High School

 Move 2 Stand is a student-led group whose mission is to improve school climate and prevent bullying as well as drug and alcohol use and abuse for Vermilion students.  The group currently has 100 members and is in its third year of existence at VHS. 

Drug Prevention

·        Our district has an active partnership with The LCADA Way to provide a comprehensive drug prevention model at VHS (4 hours weekly with a Prevention Specialist)

·        Botvin Life Skills curriculum (researched-based) presented to all 8^th graders by The LCADA Way staff from January through May

·        Participation in National Drug Facts Week (January 2017)

·        Participation in the “We are the Majority Rally” with Communities that Care. (April 2017)

·        Participation in the STOP Taskforce for Underage Drinking (Communities that Care)

·        Ten Move 2 Stand students are serving as leaders on the Erie County Youth Drug Taskforce.

·        Move 2 Stand and Workforce Development students will attend “Break the Cycle” training offered by the Erie County Sheriff’s Department and Townsend School on January 30, 2017.

Violence Prevention

·        Dating/Domestic Violence Prevention- Genesis House provides six weeks of instruction to all 8^th grade students on dating and domestic violence prevention (September 2016)

·        Gun Violence Prevention- Sandy Hook Promise presents “Say Something” curriculum to 100 Move 2 Stand members, with the goal of having these high school students train younger students.

(October 2016)

Bullying Prevention

·        Move 2 Stand members attend Keenan West “Words Hurt” anti-bullying assembly hosted by the Erie County Sheriff’s Department at Kalahari (September 2016)

·        Move 2 Stand participation in Kickoff for Kindness in Cleveland through Project Love. (November 2016)

·        Sandy Hook Promise scheduled to present “Start with Hello” to all 8^th graders and Peer Leadership class members (February 2017)

Mental Health

·        Firelands Counseling and Recovery Services provides individual sessions and group counseling sessions in stress management and anxiety, healthy relationships and decision making

·        Stein Hospice provides ongoing grief counseling and a “Grief Relief” program for students before the holidays.

Sailorway Middle School

Drug Prevention

·        Botvin Life Skills curriculum presented to all 4^th, 5^th, 6^th and 7^th graders by School Counselors

·        Participation in National Drug Facts Week

·        Participation in Red Ribbon Week

·        Participation in “Dope for Dopes” program

Mental Health

·        Firelands Counseling and Recovery Services provides individual counseling for referred students.

·        School Counselors provide small group counseling

Vermilion Elementary School

Drug Prevention

·        Botvin Life Skills curriculum presented to all 3^rd grade students by the School Counselor

·        School Counselor serves on Communities that Care Executive Board of Lorain County whose mission is to reduce youth substance abuse.

·        Participation in Red Ribbon Week

Bullying/Violence Prevention

·        Schoolwide participation in Olweus Bullying Prevention model, including bullying rules and programming.

·        1^st grade anti-bullying classroom programming delivered by School Counselor.

Mental Health

·        Firelands Counseling and Recovery Services provides individual counseling for referred students.