Alcohol and drug use by middle and high school students continues to be a major problem in society today.
WGEF Funds Innovative Theater Program
Alcohol and drug use by middle and high school students continues to be a major problem in society today.
To combat this epidemic, the West Geauga Educational Foundation funded an innovative theater program for West Geauga High School students to raise awareness and recognize pitfalls to avoid becoming part of the alcohol and drug abuse epidemic.
Linda Miller, MSSA, LSW, and a former West Geauga Schools Board of Education member, found a creative way to engage students about the dangers of alcohol and drug use to students, linking a local theater production about substance abuse directly to West Geauga HS students at the school.
The Geauga Lyric Theater Guild presented “Complete and Total,” an original play by local playwright Greg Vovos about a high school senior with bright prospects who painfully slides into addiction, impacting his future and family.
The play was presented eight times during school along with an evening performance for parents and community members. After each performance, groups of students returned to their classrooms to discuss the play with licensed professionals to help develop healthy options such as resistance, decision making and refusal skills as well as how to improve self-confidence. The social workers and prevention counselors were also available to talk with students individually and direct them to resources that could help.
Professional Development Day
Teachers from West Geauga middle and high schools worked collaboratively during Professional Development Day on Feb. 20.
Two sessions were held to give educators cutting-edge information and solutions they can use in the classroom. They worked in groups to develop ways to implement these new tactics.
A morning session was focused on how to better service gifted and talented students. The afternoon was spent learning about microaggression with a speaker from the Diversity Center of Cleveland.
