U.S.S.R. Union of SADD, SmartRisk, and RespectED

This year SADD, Smart Risk and RespectED have decided to join together to form one “super group”. The goal of the group is to create awareness about several problems that students face everyday, including drinking & driving and bullying. The Union of SADD/SmartRisk/RespectEd is a group led by Holly Mathias and Patrick Rankin. Comprised of three different committees, the group, as a whole, promotes well-being throughout the school.

Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) aims at creating awareness about the growing risk of dangerous drinking and driving while under the influence. This group works in partnership with the local MADD chapter to promote their message in schools and the community. At NRHS’s winter semi-formal dance, the group sold mocktails, with the profit being donated to MADD. This spring, the highly praised MADD video presentation will be shared amongst students.  As well, the highly anticipated “red ribbon” campaign will be run. Videos have been made to play during video announcements and more events are in the works!

SmartRisk is a non-profit organization that educates teenagers on the importance of making smart choices and taking smart risks. Part of their program is based driving safely, while being alcohol and drug free. NRHS had the privilege of sending two students to a two-day SmartRisk workshop at Camp Geddie this fall. While there, the students met many new friends, while also learning valuable leadership skills and event ideas to bring back to school. A school training session was hosted this fall as well, with approximately ten students attending.

RespectEd is branch of the Canadian Red Cross, which aims at promoting a bully-free environment in schools across the country. During the week of November 16^th-20^th, NRHS hosted its first annual “Respect Week”. Students were given the opportunity to send a free Happy Gram to their friends and teachers throughout the week, banners were created and displayed in the foyer and Henderson Paris spoke to a group of students on the topic of respect. Daily videos based on true stories were shown throughout the week during morning announcements. The RAK Superstar award was implemented this same week. Students were given nomination forms to nominate classmates who demonstrated the four guiding principles (Safety, Opportunity, Achievement and Respect). All students receiving the prize are given Nighthawk Notices and have the opportunity to sign the RAK Superstar trophy, which is displayed in the school trophy case. As well, the RAK store was opened this fall. Students can save Nighthawk Notices, which are distributed by teachers when they catch a student completing a Random Act of Kindness. Nighthawk Notices can be redeemed for pencils, school clothing, water bottle, dance tickets, cafeteria gift cards, Crushers game tickets and more. The store is opened at the same time as the OPP Retail Store.

This spring, NRHS was awarded one of five $2500 grants in Atlantic Canada to bring the Beyond the Hurt anti-bullying workshop to NRHS. Twenty students were facilitated as they learned ways to prevent and intervene in bullying. This two-day workshop was enjoyed by all and a special thanks to Food Services for their wonderful catering job! The group hopes to take their knowledge and share it with not only NRHS, but with our feeder schools as well in the forms of videos, skits and presentations.

With all these exciting activities and more going on, we are always in need of more members! Meetings are held every second Friday in Mrs. Cock’s room at lunch. Hope to see you there!