Eagle Ridge - Crossing the Line

He is wrong. It was DURING/INSTEAD OF school. If it were after school, this post wouldn't exist.

How many parents would sign up for a 6 1/2 hour session AFTER school and pick their kids up at 10:00 pm!?!?!?

 

I went to Eagle Ridge Middle School today. I talked with Mr. Tom Pollack and Mrs. Kelly Hayes about the challenge day program. You are correct, it was during the day. (My son misunderstood, as i said he may have. ) If you have questions about this, you are welcome to call or go to Eagle Rdige and speak with the staff about this program.
It has been used at Potaomac Falls HS for a few years. ERMS challenge day was geared for middle school students. (the questions you posted were not asked at the middle school level) This is a program for students that are bullied and have been bullied, for students that may have lost a family member, have a family member in Iraq, have problems with discipline in school, and various other issues. The challenge day program send two trained facilitators to run the program. Others were volunteers, some of which were staff at ERMS. IMO, this was a great program and would benefit any student at ERMS, but because of cost, was targeted towards the indiviuals that were identified by the staff. As far as cost, funds can be from grants, PTA, and other fundraising efforts. I am not sure where ERMS got all the funds, as Mrs. K, the pricipal, was not in today. But who cares, if this is going to help the students in school and life?
Again, before you cause anymore panic and state untruths, please call the school or just stop in. I have never had a problem with talking to an administrator when i have just walked in! Eagle Ridge, IMO, is a great school and we're lucky that is here in Broadlands.

 

THANK YOU for taking the time to get this info! and thank YOU- Big Dog, for raising awareness of the program. my son will be attending Eagle Ridge next year. I am curious to see what the results are- if there is followup on the behavior of the kids who are involved, especially bullies or children showing signs of depression b/c of bullying, home stress (loss of close family member, parent serving in Iraq, etc.)

seems like the kind of program that opens a dialogue instead of pretending no problems exist in OUR school... wonder if more Columbine-like incidents can be prevented by kids with issues feeling like they CAN go to someone at school, or kids raising awareness of a kid they think is at risk reporting what they know to someone.

 

It isn't appropriate there either, but my kid doesn't go there. And just because they have had it for years, doesn't mean its a good idea.

WRONG! These questions were asked. That is why I began my investigation. I was told about the "Crossing the Line" questions...that is what caused the initial shock.

What do you think caused all the crying and hugging? By the way, hugging is normally prohibited by the school rules.

If by "trained" you mean they have run the program in other schools, I'm not impressed.

And so much for privacy.

NOTE TO PARENTS: Don't let your kids say anything to the school administration that you don't want to be PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. They may end up in the auditorium spilling their guts about your family issues.

IT IS NOT THE SCHOOL'S PLACE TO COUNSEL OUR KIDS! And thank god the cost prohibits expansion of programs like this.

This would only cause "panic" in parents that have a problem with this. You seem to think everyone should be ok with it?!

Hopefully, other concerned parents will use this forum to "panic" others. I like being informed.

 

So did the students who participated in the program feel it was worthwhile or did they treat it like a big joke? If we're talking about kids who bully isn't it possible that they won't take it seriously?

 

Rendon, you're welcome! From what I was told there are some kids that are joining a club to continue the help they started. it's voluntary. no tax dollars! volunteers who participated in challenge day are volunteering to facilitate the club. I was told that 2 students who got into a fight on the bus last year and had not talked for a year, by the end of the session they both apologized to each other.

BigDog, have you called the school or gone in to talk to the administrators? Please do.
As for school not there to counsel our kids, hmmm....... guidence counselors, psychologist, deans..... what are they there for? Also, teachers are trained to notice things that maybe parents don't notice or are aware of. When a child is consistently not paying attention, not doing homework, acting out in class, they can talk to the child and help them. should the teacher inform the parent? in most cases, yes. (child abuse would be one reason not to go to the parents, a call to CPS is in order)
teachers do more than just teach reading and writing. A good teacher cares! and if my child feels comfortable going to a teacher with a problem and the teacher is willing to help, then I do thank God.

Again, please go to the school and get the facts from the people that helped facilitate this day. Don't go off on hearsay, if you want to be informed, then do so!

 

I go to Eagle Ridge and i was in challenge day.It really made a difference in my school like me and my friends from challenge day sat with the kids who sit alone and it felt really good! Going to challenge day was so worth missing school because it really helped me and i made new friends! It is going to be a day i will remember forever!!!!!!!!:loveheart:

 

I go to Eagle Ridge and i was in challenge day.It really made a difference in my school like me and my friends from challenge day sat with the kids who sit alone and it felt really good! Going to challenge day was so worth missing school because it really helped me and i made new friends! It was a day i will remember forever!!!!!!!!:loveheart: I cried a lot in the crossing the line game. It was just so amazing how many other kids go through the same stuff you do, so when i crossed the line with a bunch of my classmates i knew i wasn't alone! I had so much fun and now i don't take one look at a weird looking kid and know right away that they must be odd. I wish i could do it again some of the teachers were even crying! I could go on and on about challenge day because it is something to talk about!

 

guess there is ONE answer to your question Villager.

treehugr i am glad to hear it got through and made a difference to you and others.

 

Treehugr, thank you for your thoughts on the program. It is definitely important for students to realize they are not the only ones going through these issues, or that words can cause serious damage to others (the sticks and stones rhyme doesn't work any more!). I'm proud of you for learning that the differences in people should not exclude them from being friends with each other. I hope you keep that compassion and empathy for years to come.

 

Treehugr, thanks for sharing your experience. I bet the kids that sit alone at lunch are glad to know they can sit with you, if they want.

 

i go to eagle ridge and i was in challenge day and they asked school ok questions like have you ever been teased or have you ever sat at lunch on your own or have you and your friends gotten in a fight me and my friends were crying and hugging because we were what they called ''popping the comfort balloon'' instead of keeping feelings bundled up inside. There were like only 30 kids in challenge day and they were randomly picked because i never go to the guidance councilor. If you want to learn more about my experience with challenge day email me at [email address removed by forum administrator]

 

Ummm, then why do they have GUIDANCE COUNSELORS at school?

It seems that you feel that middle school will provide a sterile learning environment where there are no social issues. This program acknowledges the elephant in the room, and tries to deal with it.

When I was in middle school 25 years ago, in an affluent area not unlike our own, we had issues with the following: Bullying, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, tobacco abuse, and sexual activity. I don't think that these issues are diminished today.

Anyway, you have alluded to the fact that you homeschool your child because there are so many social distractions in public (and private school). This is certainly a well thought out decision, and I have often thought of doing the same with my two daughters.

However, this is a program that is trying to deal with the issues that our children face every day. I understand if you don't agree completely with the methodology, but would it be better if they did nothing?

 

Mr Rodgers, i agree! I hope that others can see that too!

 

Ummm, I'm pretty sure they are they to help kids one-on-one for things like "I'm having trouble in history." or "What should I be when I grow up?" And also things like "Johnny is picking on me, can you speak with him?"

Their mission from the Eagle Ridge Website:

Check out the Challenge Day website again. Do you think that it falls inside the description of the guidance counselors?

I have no problem with a school-wide anti-bullying program. I have no problem with a school-wide anti-drug/anti-gang program/anti-smoking program. EVEN A FULL DAY OF IT. I just really question the benefit of the this specific program, as it might do more harm than good.

Agreed. So bring in qualified school-wide programs to deal with this. Would you have a problem with a program that pulled out 50 kids in the middle the day to have teen sexuality session?

I never said I homeschool because of social distractions. I said I homeschool my son, because I was unhappy with the quality of the teachers he had (in general) at Hillside. His 4th grade teacher would text message from her cell phone all day! And I was unhappy with the disconnect between the stated curricula and implementation of it. And that they simply weren't doing very much work. And my son wasn't a model student either-so I don't totally fault the system.

 

Read my signature...at least they are trying to do something.

 

BigDog,
I read the mission statement you posted and I am confused why you still think that something like Challenge Day was not part of the what ERMS states. Challenge Day was to help with their social and emotional development. It also helps in developing a successful and productive adult.
Treehugr seems to think this helped her and her friends, new and old.
Have you talked with anyone at the school yet?

 

I have a daughter at Eagle Ridge, and she mentioned this program. A couple of kids she knows were "selected" for the program, and it was clear that various teachers/counselors selected kids who are bullied or who bully. While the intent of the program is probably good, my wife (a PhD clinical child psychologist) told me there is no clinical data or outcome research which supports this type of program; that putting victims together with victimizers is generally not a good idea; and that a single 6.5 hour program isn't going to solve any real problems/issues. She said that getting more training for teachers and guidance counselors on how to recognize and deal with bullying (both victims and victimizers) is probably a better use of school time or resources.

S

 

Thank you so much for sharing your wife's professional opinion!
I think that a program like this is to get things started. COVE is something that tries to foster good values, which definately fits into this.
I am guessing, that money is an issue in getting more training for the staff and teachers. Altho, I am sure they recieve an inservice day training and have taken a college course or two, it's not enough. but as Mr Rogers said, "the elephant" is now being seen in the room! The school recognizes an issue and is trying to help. I don't think any of us think this is a perfect solution, but it's a start.
as the old song goes, "what the world needs now is love sweet love, it's the only thing that's theres just too little of"(so, i don't sound like Sunny, but pretend!)

 

Ummm, I'm pretty sure they are they to help kids one-on-one for things like "I'm having trouble in history." or "What should I be when I grow up?" And also things like "Johnny is picking on me, can you speak with him?"

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That might easily be one of the most uninformed things I have ever read. Reading some of your statements regarding the issue has made your initial post a complete joke. I cannot take you seriously with comments like that...


Jay