(Editor’s note: The following is the second installment of a two-part series designed to shed light on programming in Bellwood-Antis School District that assists students who are experiencing problems outside the classroom. Part One explained the Support for Teens at Risk program. In today’s edition of The Daily Herald, readers can learn about group sessions and other programs.)
The Bellwood-Antis School District believes that free speaking amongst the student body is an effective way for the young scholars to learn they’re not alone in the difficulties of the real world. The Support for Teens At Risk, more commonly known as the STAR team, oversees the program.
The “team” is comprised of nine staff members who are teachers or administrators, and two community liaisons from the Altoona Hospital; a drug/alcohol counselor and a mental health representative. Superintendent of the district, Rodney Kuhns, is also involved in team activities.
The team evaluates “at-risk” students, and along with parents and other staff, work to find a proper way to address the concern.
The following information provides better detail on programs other than one-on-one meetings.
Support Groups
The district utilizes group sessions to help kids deal with the everyday responsibilities of teenagers.
Currently, B-A is operating 11 different groups – most of which involve teen issue support. B-A High School guidance counselor Susan Estep said this year’s participation has topped 100 students, which more than doubled the number from last year.
“The school is seen as a safe place,” said Estep. “We wanted to offer students group sessions that would allow them to talk privately with other teens experiencing similar problems, all in the comfort of the school. What they say in group is taken in extreme confidence and what we will report is limited.”
According to Estep, further steps would need to be taken if students talk about suicide, hurting others or child abuse.
“Our groups start in October and run all the way through May,” said Estep. “These groups really allow us to reach more students and find out what problems they are experiencing. These groups are voluntary and a lot of the students who participate are looking to help themselves.
“In a school with more than 450 students, we can’t filter out all the kids who have the problems,” she said. “These groups give students the opportunity to seek help for themselves.”
Like the STAR program, the students who participate in these group exercises come from a gamete of socioeconomic backgrounds. Estep said students ranging from athletes and consistent honor roll designees are involved in the program, as are students recently recovering the loss of a loved one or someone who may be in trouble with the law.
The same individuals who administer the STAR program also work with the students involved in the groups. Estep said each of the 11 groups have two adult facilitators, who monitor the weekly sessions.
“We become a kind of family,” said Estep. “The same people are meeting with the same groups year after year. This allows the students to become more familiar with the adult facilitators, thus easing the communications among the group.”
In the fall, the district offered nine separate groups.
Teen Issue Groups were established for each grade level nine through 12. The idea of this group is to have students open up and talk about those topics that drive them crazy, such as school, parents, boyfriends, girlfriends, their boss or even their teammates.
A Concerned Student Group was designed for students who live with or loves someone who drinks too much.
The “Nicest People Group” allows teens of divorced, separated or single parents to unite. Many students have these special problems and concerns and the district wants to let each one know they are not alone.
The New Horizon Group is for students who have lost a loved one. In this setting, students are encouraged to share their experiences involving death and receive support from others who are in the same situation.
For anger management, the district has established a Clench Fists Group. This group is for all students who may have problems dealing with situations when they become angered.
Also, the district has established a Dating/Relationship Group for students who are dating someone who is overly jealous and possessive, controlling or who pressures the other. This group allows students to learn about healthy dating and how to have healthy relationships.
Estep said the district is always looking to add additional groups to the program. She said if any parent, teacher, student or community resident has topic ideas for additional groups, to contact the guidance office.
Student mentoring program
Some students in schools all across the country wander the halls all day long without any interaction with other students. Many students feel some of their classmates are “different” from them or just not part of “the click,” thus causing them to separate from the crowd. In similar cases, students who may not have the most secure home life feel detached from the rest of the school’s population.
At Bellwood-Antis, a team of 22 teachers have taken it upon themselves to make sure these kids are noticed within the walls of the school.
“Our mentors don’t do all that much with the students,” said Estep, “but what they do is an awful lot for kids like this. It’s just about letting the students know someone is notiving them.”
According to Estep, this student-teacher interaction may just be a simple “good morning” or “how did you do on your math test today?” In other cases, a teacher may purchase the student a flower or a greeting card – to brighten their day.
“We try to target the students who seem withdrawn, troubled or isolated,” said Estep, noting that each of the involved teachers normally chooses two or three students each semester to anonymously mentor.
Other programs
The district also incorporates two other programs to help with teen issues.
The Teen Parenting Program is held in conjunction with the Home Nursing Agency. According to Estep, the program is designed to educate students, both girls and boys, about child birth and the responsibilities associated with it. The program is presented by representative of the Home Nursing Agency.
Also, the district has developed an Intervention Team that meets with students who have already been suspended on three separate occasions. At B-A, students who are suspended four times can be expelled for the remainder of the school year.
Estep said this is a critical point in the students’ education, calling it “the last wake-up call.”
She said the intervention team meets with the student and his or her parents to try and determine where the problems are and how they can be addressed.
For more information concerning any student-assist programs at Bellwood-Antis, interested readers can contact Sue Estep at 742-2275.
