WARE SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOTEBOOK

By Melissa Fales

Discussion continues on drug education programs

Members of the Ware School Committee continued their discussion of the Project Purple drug education program at their March 13 meeting.

Project Purple was created by former NBA star Chris Herren to support students and families struggling with substance abuse issues.

At the committee’s Feb. 27 meeting, the members had asked for more information regarding the Project Purple drug education program and why the district’s adjustment counselors did not think that it would be a good fit for students at Ware Junior Senior High School.

Ware Middle School Principal Robert Warren, filling in for Superintendent Mary–Elizabeth Beach, said WJSHS Adjustment Counselor William Griffin was not necessarily opposed to a program like Project Purple, but felt that a one-time event wouldn’t have enough of a lasting impact on the students. “He feels that something on a sustained basis with the kids is more valuable,” said Warren.

Warren suggested that there may be more effective ways of raising awareness about the dangers of substance abuse at the high school level. For example, there might be a way to introduce the topic through the school’s advisory groups, small groups of students who meet regularly with a staff member to talk about topics of interest or concern for the students. “Having an adult speaking to 10 or 12 students is very powerful,” said Warren. “It’s a great way to take the pulse of the school.”

Warren said the Project Purple program might be a better fit at WMS where Adjustment Counselor Jacqueline Jock runs the Second Step program. Second Step encourages students to think about their goals and their future, and to take into consideration how the positive and negative life choices they make will affect them. Warren said Jock was interested in learning more about Project Purple and whether it would complement the Second Step program or if it would be repetitive.

However, Warren said initial research about Project Purple has raised some concerns. For example, the drug awareness program is one part of a larger fundraising organization that pays for drug rehabilitation for those who can’t afford it. School Committee member William Gunn asked whether any fundraising efforts taking place here in Ware would benefit local people. Warren said it wasn’t clear, and that the district would need more information about the fundraising aspect.  

Also, the Project Purple program has only been in existence for 11 months. Because it is so new, it’s still in its developmental stage. Warren said the counselors will contact other schools who have been involved with Project Purple to get feedback. More information available about Project Purple should be available by the start of the 2013-2014 school year. Warren said once the district has that information, the adjustment counselors will be better able to assess how the program fits in with the curriculum at WMS or WJSHS.

 

MCAS exams to be held March 19 through March 28

Warren announced that the English Language Arts portion of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) will be taking place in Ware Public Schools between March 19 and March 28. See the individual school calendars for the testing days for each grade.

 

Kindergarten registration April 3 and 4

Kindergarten registration will be held at Stanley M. Koziol Elementary School April 3 and 4 from 9:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Call the school at 413-967-6236 for more information. 

 

Last day of school June 21

Warren said the district has used all of the five snow days built into the school year calendar. Barring any more snow days, the last day of school will be June 21.