iASK-CAB Notes

March 9, 2017

Recap: Marijuana Awareness Month

In February, the High School Positive Impact Club planned awareness activities related to “Marijuana Awareness Month”. At the beginning of February, there was a window display for “Marijuana Awareness Month” which included facts about marijuana and its impact on the teenage brain. The Positive Impact Club students hosted a marijuana “foggles” demonstration and information table for the “Marijuana Awareness Month”. The students guided their peers through a written maze activity to demonstrate executive functioning impairment as a result of marijuana use. The table also provided information about the risks associated with marijuana use, and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) “Marijuana Facts for Teens” pamphlets were made available to students both at the table and in the high school main office.

Learn more about marijuana.

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March 9, 2017

Parent’s Guide to Teen Parties

As a parent, you know the importance of your teen’s social life and that parties are a way to socialize and relax. But an unsupervised or poorly planned party can result in unwanted or even tragic consequences. However, parental responsibility is the key to a fun and safe party.

The American Academy of Pediatrics shares some important information about teen parties. Learn more.

in iASK-CAB Notes
February 26, 2017

Mixed Media Messages

DID YOU KNOW?  According to a recent researcher study out of the University of Stanford, more than 80% of middle-schoolers couldn’t distinguish between a real news story on a website and an ad labeled “sponsored content”?

With so many mixed messages in the media, it is no wonder it is difficult for our children to distinguish fact from fiction.

Tips to Help Your Child:

1) Talk to your children about they read online and gently redirect any misinformation

2) Encourage them to read/watch a variety of news sources. Lead by example and do the same yourself!

3) Teach your children to research a website’s author or organization before reading an article

Source: Jennifer Nunziato (Traditi), LMHC, Student Assistance Counselor, Irvington High School & Middle School, Phone: 914-269-5469

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February 19, 2017

Marijuana Legalization: Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned After 4 Years of Marijuana Legalization.

The laws have had significant negative impacts on public health and safety, such as:

• Rising rates of pot use by minors

• Increasing arrest rates of minors, especially black and Hispanic children

• Higher rates of traffic deaths from driving while high

• More marijuana-related poisonings and hospitalizations

• A persistent black market that may now involve increased Mexican cartel activity in Colorado

Learn more.

 

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February 9, 2017

Spreading Awareness with Pizza

Members of Irvington Middle School’s Positive Impact Club recently spread awareness about keeping young people in their community safe, healthy and free of alcohol and drugs with the help of two local businesses.

To convey their message, the students placed more than 400 stickers, reading in part “While underage drinking and drug use is no one’s fault, prevention is everyone’s responsibility,” on pizza boxes at Tony’s Pizzeria in Irvington and Capri Pizza & Pasta in Tarrytown.

“The project took place last week in anticipation of the increased number of pizzas that were expected to be purchased for the Super Bowl,” said Jennifer Nunziato, advisor of the Positive Impact Club and student assistance counselor. “This was a great example of coordination in our District and community.”

The Irvington Recreation Department provided transportation to both businesses with Nunziato chaperoning the students. Irvington About Safe Kids, a coalition established through a grant awarded to the Village of Irvington and Community Advisory Board, sponsored and provided the stickers.

“[Superintendent of Schools] Dr. Kristopher Harrison surprised the students at Capri Pizza and purchased a pizza to congratulate them on their hard work,” Nunziato said. “The owner of Tony’s Pizzeria also provided the students with pizza, drinks and snacks as a token of his support for the project.”

The Irvington Middle School Positive Impact Club is a leadership club that focuses on promoting healthy decision-making and spreading messages of prevention and awareness across the school and local community.

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February 5, 2017

Passenger of an Impaired Driver?

Did you know…1 in 3 teens surveyed say they have been a passenger with an drinking or drug impaired driver at least once in the past year?

Tips to Keep Your Child Safe: 

1) Teach your children refusal skills

2) Establish an emergency exit code with your child

3) Communicate clearly to your child that you are willing to pick them up if he/she doesn’t have a safe ride home

Speak to your son or daughter today about the dangers of being a passenger in the car with someone who is impaired by alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs.

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