Students Learn Life Lessons [With Video]

On Thursday, students got a chance to learn some life lessons – like what a crash feels like, what happens if you are in a rollover crash without a seatbelt, and what happens on the Connecticut State Police “Bat Mobile.”

Ahead of Saturday’s prom, the Developing Positive Youth Culture group, formerly the Drug Abuse Prevention Council, sponsored a week of activities at the school.

A couple months back, a slogan contest was held and the winner would receive two prom tickets – or a gift card if he or she was not attending the prom. A sophomore won the contest and received the gift card.

The winning slogan was “Red solo cup, don’t fill me up,” playing off of Toby Keith’s song, “Red Solo Cup.” On Monday, students were given wristbands with this slogan on them.

On Tuesday, “did you know” drug and alcohol facts and statistics were given at the beginning of each period. On Wednesday, a blackout was held, where people wore black in support of people who have been affected by drug and alcohol use.

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Thursday was demonstration day with the police on hand. On Friday, cookies with the slogan printed on them will be given out. Health and physical education teacher Lisa Kelly, the teacher member of the DPYC, said that the 800 cookies came from .

In the past, pre-prom activities have included assemblies or mock crashes. Kelly and Rise Above advisor Debbie Stauffer said that they wanted to try something else this year so that hopefully the carryover would be a little longer and the students would think about the lessons longer.

Students were able to see and participate in the demonstrations during lunch, and health and physical education teacher Jennifer Plis brought her ninth grade health class outside to see what was going on.

“It’s a great time for them to find this out now,” she said. “It’s a nice little reminder. It’s been a good week.”

Students were able to take a ride on “The Convincer” which demonstrates what a 5 mile per hour car crash feels like. Also on hand was the “Rollover Machine” which showed students what would happen if they were involved in a rollover accident while not wearing a seatbelt.

The police also brought the “Bat Mobile,” which stands for breath alcohol testing mobile unit. The vehicle has a temporary holding cell, an exterior lighting system, an Intoximeter Instrument, a mast mounted video system capable of recording the checkpoint operations, a prisoner processing area, and an exterior monitor and audio system for public presentations.