Lawn School, along with 30 other Rhode Island
middle/junior high schools and 25 high schools, has a Student Assistance
program. The Jamestown Student
Assistance program is funded by the Jamestown Substance Abuse Prevention Task
Force, School Department Title IV Federal Funds, and as part of the Rhode
Island Foundation Teen Center grant.
The goals of the Student Assistance Program
are to prevent and reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, and to improve
school performance. To accomplish
these goals, the program provides school-wide awareness and individual and
group services designed to teach skills to identify and resist social and
situational pressures to use substances.
Stephanie Nocon is the
Student Assistance Counselor at the Lawn School. She is available at Lawn School Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,
and Friday. Mrs. Nocon has a Master’s
Degree in Social Work, previous experiences working with adolescents, and
specialized training in prevention and early intervention strategies with
adolescents.
In addition to conducting prevention and
education services, Mrs. Nocon is available to see students who are using
alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, or have personal, school, or family problems
that could lead to alcohol, drug abuse, or other unhealthy behaviors. Mrs. Nocon works with students in a
group called “Teen Institute/Youth Advisory” which works closely with the Teen
Center to provide activities to students. Mrs. Nocon also works with Students
Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), which promotes healthy decision-making
and raises awareness about the consequences of unhealthy behavior. Mrs. Nocon
has also created an after school scrap-booking group and is co-coach of the
school soccer team.
The Student Assistance Program has helped many
students make responsible choices; it has educated students about the dangers
of drug use, and has helped others get outside help. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Nocon with any additional questions,
concerns, feedback, and/or ideas for this year.
Important Links:
Jamestown Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force
Awareness
Campaigns During the School Year:
OCTOBER, Red
Ribbon Week: Established to
honor "Kiki" Camarena, a U.S. Drug Enforcement agent who was
kidnapped and murdered in 1985. At Lawn School this
is a Spirit Week with a drug-free theme each day. It’s concludes with “Sock It
To Drugs Day” when students and faculty wear crazy socks and there is a faculty
vs. students soccer game. Also, daily there is a question of the day with great
drug-free themed prizes (tee shirts, balls, Frisbees, stickers, pencils, etc.)
NOVEMBER:
The Great American Smoke Out: Established
in 1977 by the American Cancer Society. A variety of tobacco education and
prevention activites are planned. In schools, the major focus of the day
is activities to ask students who smoke to give up cigarettes for the day, and
for students who do not smoke, to pledge not to start. This occurs the Thursday before
thanksgiving.
DECEMBER,
National Drunk/ Drugged Driving Awareness Month: A national effort in which communities across the
country conduct public awareness and enforcement campaigns to prevent impaired
driving. This year SADD will be handing out MADD car ribbons at the
Tree Lighting Ceremony/Teen Center Open House on December 1st.
Information and statistics about the dangers of driving while under the
influence will also be handed out.
DECEMBER: When the Holidays aren't so Happy
Activities: Help students understand that sometimes the holidays are not
all happy times. It can be very difficult for children that have parents’ that
may be divorced and/or have family members that may have issues with alcohol or
drugs. S.A.D.D. promotes a “Dodge
The Holiday Blues” Dodgeball tournament for this awareness campaign.
FEBRUARY,
Children of Alcoholics (COA) Awareness Week: This
occurs the week of Valentines Day. Created
to raise awareness of issues related to children of alcoholics. Prevention
activities allow children to learn factual information about the impact of
chemical dependency on children and their families in a way that is
non-threatening and non-stigmatizing.
APRIL,
Kick Butts Day: An
anti-tobacco campaign developed by the Campaign for Tobacco-free kids. The goal
is to prevent and reduce adolescent tobacco use through the provision of
"fun" and informative activities. This year there is a
Kickball tournament being planned to promote this event. In past years we have held poster
contests, etc.
April, Alcohol Awareness Month: Recognized in Rhode Island as a month to raise
awareness of the dangers and risks of adolescent alcohol use and to provide
accurate and up-to-date information on the negative consequences of alcohol
use. Last year, we created an
alcohol reality wall outside the cafeteria. Students wrote blurbs on how
alcohol has impacted their life and/or community.
MAY:
Mental Health Awareness Month
*Information regarding each monthly event is always announced in
school. It’s also in flyers and/or adds at the school, at the Recreation &
Teen Center, in the Warrior, and in the Jamestown Press. Any questions please email Mrs. Nocon and/or call 423-7010 ext.
212.