SADD Chapter News
Space Coast SADD - Making a Difference in Their Community
Here is a recent letter we received from a SADD chapter making a difference in their community.
"Hi. I'm Kellie Northup, the president of Space Coast SADD at Space Coast Jr./Sr. High school in Cocoa. (Brevard County) My SADD chapter would like to share with you a project that we recently conducted to help the less fortunate this Thanksgiving. We advertised and conducted a canned food drive for one week with the message, "We CAN be drug free." Our cans were collected each morning in each class's first period. The winning class received a free breakfast. The other motivator, was to put all the cans in our principal's office, Mr. Spinner, until eventually we kicked him out with so many cans. The drive was a huge success and we were able to give our local sharing center over 2,000 canned goods. Below is a picture of the cans piled into Mr. Spinner's office. Hope you enjoy it!"
We appreciate when our SADD chapters help their local community. I am positive your SADD chapter made a difference in the lives of those who live in your area. We are so proud of you. Keep up the great work!
Daniel Vocelle, SADD National Student of the Year
Sebastian River High School senior Daniel Vocelle has been instrumental at his school in staging mock crashes and other events aimed at curbing teen drinking and driving. In fact, this past year he has been instrumental in helping the FLORIDA SADD Student Advisory Board as the Region 4 representative in putting together many prevention campaigns, even having his pictures on the actual campaign posters. He will now be able to reach a much bigger audience. Daniel Vocelle was selected as the SADD National Student of the Year.
The announcement comes about four months after he was chosen as FLORIDA SADD Student of the Year. He was chosen from a pool of extremely talented young people all across the country. Daniel explained that although he was surprised to be selected as the SADD National Student of the Year he hopes to make a real difference and reach many students. Daniel,a student in the SRHS International Baccalaureate program, has been involved with the school's SADD chapter for four years, serving as president of the chapter for two years. Daniel plans to study chemical engineering and chemistry at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee in the fall 2006.
Lake Weir Middle School Student Wins Poster Contest
On Wednesday, April 28 in Summerfield, FL Robert Wallace from Lake Weir Middle School was honored as the winner of the 2006 FLORIDA SADD Middle School Poster Contest. Robert received an award plague, a SADD Empowered bracelet, and a $100 savings bond. However, the best part is that Robert’s Poster will be used in the 2006 Fall Middle School campaign. Each registered middle school SADD chapter will receive this poster. The poster will have Robert’s name and school on the actual poster itself. He was named the Florida statewide winner out of more than 32 applicants for the poster contest with his marker drawing with the message "Beer and Keys Don't Mix! So don't drink!" Read more about the winning poster in the 2006 Fall Newsletter.
Hendry County Teen Summit
On April 3-6, 2006 FLORIDA SADD was asked to attend the Hendry County Teen Summit in Lake Placid, Florida in Hendry County. Over the past several years Hendry County has been using the concept of a Teen Summit to promote positive student involvement against the destructive habits among their fellow students.
This event helped Hendry County to address the Safe and Drug Free School goals the district has to reduce students early involvement in ATOD, reduce binge drinking (High School), reduce violence/fighting and reduce students overall antisocial behavior and reduce incidents of drinking and driving among students.
Those schools that attended the Teen Summit were Labelle High & Clewiston High and Clewiston Youth Development & Labelle Youth Development Academy and Clewiston Middle & Labelle Middle Schools.
FLORIDA SADD spoke with the students about the history of SADD, how to manage a SADD chapter, about goal setting, and about how to put on a successful program or activity at their school that discussed various "destructive decisions". Gary Whitehurst, a motivational speaker, spoke on various occasions to the students and talked to them about making good choices and learning to become a strong leader. Students also had a chance to participate in different team building exercises put together by both FLORIDA SADD and Mr. Whitehurst. FLORIDA SADD participated in the same Teen Summit last year and was pleased to see SADD chapters started in those schools who attended.
After the Teen Summit, Mr. Todd had the chance to visit with several of the SADD chapters in Hendry County at their own school, including those students from the Clewiston Youth Development Agency seen pictured here.
State Coordinator attends Miami Beach Health and Fitness Expo
The FLORIDA SADD State Coordinator, Verl Todd, had the pleasure of attending the Miami Beach Health and Fitness Expo on April 29-30. He had the chance to talk to participants about SADD while handing out educational materials and having them participate in the fatal vision goggle demonstration. He worked along side of the Florida Highway Patrol who was also on hand to talk to people about traffic safety. FLORIDA SADD, the Florida Highway Patrol, All-State Insurance, and NBC 6 South Florida are working together on some special projects that included this expo and a one minute Public Service Announcements that will air on NBC 6 South Florida. FLORIDA SADD's participation would include having a teen member appear on the Public Service Announcements to create awareness and educate teens/parents on how to address the following topics: Distracted Driver, Buckling Up, Impaired Driving, Reckless driving, and Aggressive Driving.
Underage Drinking Town Hall Meeting
On Thursday, March 30 from 8 am-4pm at the Fraternal Order of Police in Jacksonville, FL the Duval County Public Schools Health Education / Safe & Drug-Free Schools presented the Underage Drinking Town Hall Meeting to the community. There were many local schools who attended including SADD chapters from Suwanee High School and Baker County High School. Verl Todd, FLORIDA SADD State Coordinator, was one of the many guest speakers in attendance that day. Mr. Todd spoke about FLORIDA SADD and the importance of having youth involved in alcohol prevention efforts. He encouraged schools who were in attendance who didn’t have a SADD chapter to consider starting one. He interacted with students and adults throughout the event, answering questions about SADD and peer to peer education. The event included many activities such as a Mock DUI crash and a brainstorming session for students that discussed how they could take the information they learned today and educate their peers back home about alcohol prevention.
Just Know Underage Drinking Awareness Day
On March 25th from 10am-3pm at Centennial Park in Fort Myers, FL the SADD chapters in that area put on an underage drinking awareness day. The event had many SADD chapters in Lee County that came together to bring awareness to the community of underage drinking. There were local bands that played throughout the day, food, games, local agencies such as law enforcement and MADD that came out to support this event, and other fun activities throughout the day. Emily Smith, Student Advisory Board Representative from Region 7 and Verl Todd, FLORIDA SADD State Coordinator were both on hand to speak to the community and the local SADD chapters. They handed out brochures and giveaways items to participants and met many of the local SADD students. The event was a success and saw many community members who came out for support.
Jodi-Kaye Wade Attends YMCA Healthy Kids Fair
FLORIDA SADD Student Advisory Board Representative from Region 8 attended the YMCA Healthy Kids Fair in Broward County to promote SADD and talk with students about making good choices. The Vice-President of her SADD chapter at Blanche Ely High School was also present. They both spoke with parents and students about SADD and handed out information material and giveaway items. The YMCA wrote a letter to our office explaining that the event went well and that Jodi-Kaye did an excellent job representing FLORIDA SADD and hoped we could attend future events.
Leon High School SADD Chapter Busy Promoting Good Choices
During this past school year the Leon High School SADD chapter has been very busy promoting making positive choices. Early in the school year they had students write their name on pieces of construction paper to form a Chain of Life. This chain represented these student’s lives and reminded them not to break the chain by drinking and driving or using harmful substances that could kill them. They hung the Chain of Life near the entrance of school so students would see the chain every day.
The next event was during their school’s Winterfest event where their SADD chapter set up a fatal vision obstacle course. Students and teachers had the chance to wear fatal vision goggles and ride on a tricycle around an obstacle course. They were able to see first hand how drinking and driving can affect a person’s vision and ability to drive. As each person complete the obstacle course, SADD students gave participants a DUI ticket that gives information about the drinking and driving laws in Florida. Verl Todd, State Coordinator FLORIDA SADD, was on hand to meet and greet students at Leon High School.
The next event was a Ghost Out activity where SADD members were removed from classrooms to have a tear painted on the side of their face. The Grim Reaper would come into classrooms and touch people and they represented dead people and could not talk. The activity was a harsh reminder of the consequences of alcohol and drug use.
SADD Students Meet Simple Plan
The SADD chapters from Clearwater High, Shorecrest, Gibbs High, Northeast High, Lakewood High, Boca Ciega High and Southside met with the band at Jannus Landing In St Petersburg on Monday evening Jan 16th 2006. A total of 26 students got to meet and greet the music group from Canada. They got autographs and pictures with 5 members of the band. The event was set up by Bob Janssen and Eileen Pearson. Simple Plan’s hit song and video called "Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me?)" is a very personal look at what happens when a drinking and driving tragedy hits close to home. The music video tells a story about all of the innocent victims affected by drinking and driving.
FLORIDA SADD visits the State Capitol for Family Day
On September 26th, 2005, FLORIDA SADD visited the State Capitol in Tallahassee, FL for a Family Day celebration. Family Day is observed nationally and in many states to recognize the link between families eating dinner together and lower teen drug use. In fact, studies show teens who rarely eat dinner with their parents are 72% more likely than the average teen to use drugs, drink, and smoke. Verl Todd, State Coordinator FLORID SADD, had the chance to speak to individuals in the community about SADD and its mission. He handed out alcohol prevention and traffic safety information and answered questions on these topics. There were many community leaders at this event including the Governor’s wife First Lady Columba Bush. Several area schools also attended this event and participated in a press conference and luncheon at the capitol.
Cool Middle School News - Wilson Middle School
When I started SADD in my middle school 7 years ago it was because I felt that there was a need for students to be aware of potential destructive decisions. Part of me felt that I had to have a club to sponsor and part of me felt that students needed extra encouragement from their peers to not make destructive decisions. I have always felt that middle school students are capable of making destructive decisions but many adults think that these things do not happen until high school. At the SADD National Conference I was surprised to learn the age group that was repeated over and over as the starting point is middle school students. According to the 2003 Florida Youth and Substance Abuse Survey of Florida’s 6th through 12th graders alcohol use is as follows:
- 55.1% have consumed alcohol in their lifetime
- 30.9% have consumed alcohol in the past 30 days with grade levels ranging from 11.2% for 6th graders to 52.4% for 12th graders
- 16.0% reported binge drinking (consuming 5 or more drinks in one sitting) averaging 8.3% for middle school students and 22.3% for high school students.
These numbers are frightening. As a SADD sponsor I find it very disturbing that statistically of a class of 20 middle school students 10 have consumed alcohol, 4 have consumed in the last 30 days and 2 are binge drinking. I would like to see more SADD clubs in middle schools. If you know of anyone in middle school encourage them to find a teacher to sponsor SADD. I feel that I get more out of it then what I put into it and what a difference it is making in society.
At Wilson Middle School we start every year off doing a Chain of Life. This chain is made of strips of construction paper that students write their name on and can decorate if they choose. This chain is hung in our cafeteria the entire year and students are reminded to not break our chain by making destructive decisions. This is a very inexpensive activity to do and gives the students something to do during homeroom.
The suicide rate for children ages 10-14 has doubled over the last ten years, making suicide the 4th leading cause of death for that age group. For young people ages 14-24 it is the 3rd leading cause of death. Septemeber 18-24 is Suicide Awareness. We celebrate this by ordering cards from www.yellowribbon.org or you can print them up yourself. By ordering the cards through them you are making a donation to the organization. The cards are for students to keep in their wallet and they include a number for students to call if they need to. They also say for students to give the cards to an adult if they need to. Yellow Ribbon also has a video that you can order. I ordered it a few years ago and show it to the school each year on the morning show.
Article by Shana Logan, SADD Advisor - Wilson Middle SchoolChiles High School Hosts Grim Reaper Day
On Friday, May 13, 2005 over 200 students participated in Grin Reaper Day. The SADD chapter passes on a positive message to help save lives and give students something positive to think about. SADD members removed students from classrooms to have their faces painted. The faces of the selected students were painted white. They represented dead people and they could not talk. The activity was a harsh reminder of the consequences of alcohol and drug use. Chiles High School's prom was May 14. 2005, the following day.
Community School of Naples Hosts a Bands Battle
The SADD chapter at the Community School of Naples holds events throughout each school year to raise money. This past school year they had their 5th annual Battle of the Bands. At this event, ten local bands, located within a 50 mile radius of the Community School of Naples, competed for various awards. Events like these promote responsibility and demonstrate how to have fun without having to drink or do drugs. Their next Battle of the Bands is scheduled for March 18, 2006.
South Lake High School Holds a DUI Simulation
More than 900 juniors and seniors from South Lake High School experienced first hand last April the consequences associated with drinking and driving.
The Lake County Community Traffic Safety Team and South Lake teachers Ken Harley and Carol Moyes, in conjunction with the Groveland Police Department and other agencies put on a special program simulating a driving-under-the-influence crash. "You can tell them the the statistics, but it's just numbers they hear," said Chris Daniels, Lake County Sheriff. "This brings it home. It puts an actual event to the numbers."
The simulation creates a realistic view of the adverse effects for everyone involved - not just the victims but their families, friends and the drivers. "Even if you survive a crash, or if you get arrested, it changes your whole life and sends it spinning," Daniels told the students. "You're all about ready to head out into life and we'd like for all of you to make it out alive. I hope this will be a sobering moment for all of you."
The simulation was not watered down nor pretty. It also served its purpose - to open the student's eyes to the consequences of drunk driving. As the main scene began, sounds of an actual car crash bellowed from the speakers - tires screeching and the cars tried to brake, sliding and then the loud banging of the crash. The sound of the impact and shattering glass was enough to send shock waves through the stands. Afterwards, there was only silence. "Not only are we trying to teach the kids the dangers of drinking and driving, but that death is final and happens to young people all the time," said Harley.
The smoke after the crash was thick. When it cleared there were five victims with one fatality, two totaled cars, broken glass and lots of blood. What the students saw next was the eye-opener: Participants in the simulation were fellow students. Moyes said having actual students involved in the simulation showed it could be one of them or people they knew and saw every day.
With prom and graduation right around the corner, the simulation also served as a practice run for the rescue teams dispatched in the event of an actual crash. Local police officers, fire fighters and paramedics all worked on their response times and methods, vehicle extrication, medical techniques and transportation of the victims. The emergency helicopter was also dispatched and landed on the field to aid in the efforts.
As the students were leaving the field, an open casket filled with pictures of people killed in alcohol-related crashes was placed by the exit as a final reminder. Joseph Ricardo, 16, said, "I don't drink now and don't plan on ever drinking if something like this is going to happen."
Article printed with permission from Rick Madwell, Daily Commercial.
Cool Middle School News - The Cool Spot
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism released a new version of "The Cool Spot," a website for middle school students to help them understand the risks of underage drinking and how to resist peer pressure. The new content on the website is based on curriculum for grades six through eight.
FLORIDA SADD attends Teen Summit
On April 4-7, 2005 FLORIDA SADD was asked to attend the Firewalker Teen Summit in Lake Placid, Florida in Hendry County. Over the past several years Hendry County has been using the concept of a Teen Summit to promote positive student involvement against the destructive habits among their fellow students. The goal was to see SADD chapters (they presently call Firewalker Clubs) established, active and vibrant in their 2 High School and 2 Middle School as well as in their 2 Alternative Schools.
This event helped Hendry County to address the Safe and Drug Free School goals the district has to reduce students early involvement in ATOD, reduce binge drinking (High School), reduce violence/fighting and reduce students overall antisocial behavior and reduce incidents of drinking and driving among students. Student reaching their peers is a big goal.
Those schools that attended the Teen Summit were Labelle High & Clewiston High and Clewiston Youth Development & Labelle Youth Development Academy and Clewiston Middle & Labelle Middle Schools.
FLORIDA SADD spoke with the students about the history of SADD, how to start and manage a SADD chapter, about goal setting, and about how to put on a successful program or activity at their school that discussed various "destructive decisions".
Gary Whitehurst, a motivational speaker, spoke on various occasions to the students and talked to them about making good choices and learning to become a strong leader. Students also had a chance to participate in different team building exercises put together by both FLORIDA SADD and Mr. Whitehurst.
Sebastian River High Mock DUI Crash Program
I had the pleasure of visiting the SADD chapter at Sebastian River High School on April 19, 2005 and attend their Mock DUI Crash program. A Mock DUI Crash is a simulated drinking and driving accident that shows students what really happens when a crash has occurred. Only the senior classes were invited to attend this program. The purpose of this program was to open the students’ eyes to the consequences of drunk driving.
The main scene began with students getting into a car after they had been drinking. Another scene showed a young man picking up his older brother who came home from the Army up from the airport. Both the students and brothers pulled away, leaving to go to their perspective destinations. Next, you heard sounds of an actual car crash coming from the speakers — tires screeching as the cars tried to brake, sliding and then the loud banging of the crash. The sound of the impact and shattering glass was enough to send shockwaves through the stands. Afterwards, there was only silence. What everyone saw next was a scene of students crying, police and medical personnel arriving on the scene, and images of broken glass and blood on the pavement. One of the girls had gone right straight through the windshield. Later, they covered her body with a white blanket as she did not survive the accident.
Although I knew that none of this was real and everything from the crash to the blood was fake, my eyes were clued to the scene, watching everything that I had just witnessed. I had to remind myself to stop watching and look out in the crowd at the students. As I saw the students, I noticed different reactions to what they just saw. I saw some students with their hands cupped over their eyes as they couldn’t watch. I saw others whose eyes were staring straight ahead, looking in disbelief at what they had just seen. In fact, most every student was gazed upon the crash scene. The entire program looked so real and there was so much going on. They even had a helicopter that airlifted one of the "victims" to the nearby hospital. Sirens were going off, students were crying, and we even witnessed the student driver who had been drinking being put into handcuffs and taken off to jail.
After the Mock DUI program, everyone was taken into an assembly where officers talked to the students about drinking and driving. A student whose brother was killed in a drunk driving accident spoke to the group of students about the horrifying experience. As tears came down his face as he spoke about his brother, the students sat motionless, hanging on to every word.
I want to thank Beckie Selph, SADD Advisor, and her group of SADD students for inviting me to come and see their program. I strongly believe that their program made an impact on those students that day. My hope is that they all will learn something from this experience.
FLORIDA SADD visits Chiles High School
FLORIDA SADD, Visions of Manhood, and the Wakulla County Simulated Impaired Driving Experience group visited Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee, Florida on May 4, 2005 to engage students about underage drinking and impaired driving.
Students participated in a DUI simulation test sponsored by the Simulated Impaired Driving Experience group. Students were exposed to a 'real life' driving experience while wearing Fatal Vision goggles that impaired their vision. The purpose of this activity was to enhance their educational experience about drinking and driving. Verl Todd, State Coordinator FLORIDA SADD, spoke to students about FLORIDA SADD and the various activities that are being planned next year. The Leon County SADD chapters together with FLORIDA SADD plan on working together next year on several joint activities that may include a county wide Mock DUI Crash. Members of Chiles High School’s SADD chapter spoke to fellow students about joining SADD and about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Statistics show that more teens die in alcohol related crashes during the months of March, April, and May due to activities that include Spring Break, Prom, and Graduation. FLORIDA SADD is a member of the Community Trials Initiative coalition sponsored by Visions of Manhood that seeks opportunities to reduce the availability of alcoholic beverages and the consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons. Together they have visited other Leon County schools to talk with students about underage drinking and impaired driving. They hope to be more visible in the schools next year and have the chance to engage students about issues related to alcohol and impaired driving.
