Everything Canyon Lake Kids Positive Youth Initiatives

CANYON LAKE YOUTH

Active in the Community

3 Amazing and Inspiring Programs were Presented to the Students, Teachers, and Parents in the Community due to the Efforts of Hard-working, Empowered Student Initiatives. The Mission? To Encourage Respect for All Members of the Community, Initiate Anti-bullying Education and Foster an Environment of Kindness within the School System, and to Teach about the Dangers of Underage Drinking and Driving.

 I Love These Programs! 

TAKE THE PLEDGE TODAY at www.r-word.org

• Help eliminate the demeaning use of the R-word–a common taunt used to make fun of others.  Often unwittingly, the word is used to denote behavior that is clumsy, hapless, and even hopeless.  But whether intentional or not, the word conjures up a painful stereotype of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  It hurts. Even if it isn't meant that way.

• Young people around the world are taking a stand and raising awareness of the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the R-word and are helping encourage others to think before they speak.

• Help organize a youth rally or presentation to your school today!

SHATTERED DREAMS PROGRAM CANYON LAKE HIGH 

"Shattered Dreams" is an educational experience that reminds us all of the dangers associated with drinking and driving. It reminds us that too many young lives have already been lost and countless others severely impaired because of the tragic consequences of underage drinking and drinking combined with driving. "Shattered Dreams" is about drinking and driving. It's about living and dying. Can "Shattered Dreams" make a difference in a young person's life? Families, schools, faith-based and community groups in Texas must join together to teach young people that consuming alcohol while underage is never a good choice. Can our communities afford to ignore the devastating impact that underage drinking is causing?

The "Shattered Dreams" program involves the dramatization of an alcohol-related crash on or near a high school campus, complete with police and EMS response, emergency room treatment, family notifications, and the arrest and booking of the driver. The crash scene drama is played out before the student body during a school day. Throughout the day the other elements of the "docu-drama" unfold. To give students a better understanding of the number of DWI-related deaths, an individual dressed as the "Grim Reaper" appears periodically throughout the school day to select a new victim. In 2000 every 20 minutes someone in Texas was injured or killed as the result of drunk driving. The victims are taken out of class, made-up in white faces and dressed in black t-shirts to symbolize death, and then returned to their classrooms to continue their day. By the end of the day, every student has one or more "dead" classmates present in the classroom with him, and on this note the school day ends.

The next morning a wrap-up assembly is held featuring those who played roles in the previous day's drama, including the "crash" victims, the drunk driver, their parents, and participating law enforcement and medical personnel. Impact statements from community members whose lives have been affected by teenage alcohol use and drunk driving bring closure to the program and reinforce its dual message for the teenage audience -- Don't drink until you are 21, and never drink and drive

Rachel's Challenge came to Canyon Lake in 2012-it was a powerful and inspiring program and helped to bring awareness about bullying to the community!  To keep the momentum going some of the area schools adopted on-going programs within the schools:

1. Startzville Elementary created their own "KC" or Kindness & Compassion Club and the primary mission is to teach children at an early age that kindness and compassion are a way of life; it proactively addresses the issues of bullying and destructive behavior by giving students permission to be kind. The focus is on promoting and celebrating positive behavior and thereby instilling a positive self-image and respect for others that can shape their lives and ultimately promotes an atmosphere conducive to effective learning. The club meets once a month after school and has many members, the meetings are designed to keep the message alive and the kids have great fun working on special projects designed to foster kindness
2. Mountain Valley Middle School AND Canyon Lake High School-each formed a "FOR" or Friends of Rachel Club to foster an environment of respect and caring within the school and community.  They established ambassadors to promote campus wide kindness initiatives such as welcoming new students, empowering bystanders, switch it up days and a student mentoring program.