When we return to school on Monday, Feb. 25, NHS will participate in the nationwide “Say Something” week, sponsored by the Sandy Hook Promise. https://www.sandyhookpromise.org

Started by parents after the 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut, its focus is to empower students to ‘Say Something’ when they know a student may be in danger of hurting themselves or others. Research statistics indicate that in at least 70% of suicides and school shootings, warning signs were apparent to others--particularly their peers. https://youtu.be/In5kYMaPlm8. If you still say ‘why we should do this?’, please watch this video, starting at 0:45 until 4:02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZwwzP6ANQo

But this ‘Say Something’ theme can help us deal with the problem of vaping nicotine and marijuana as well as acts of intolerance and exclusion that threaten our positive school climate. While we want to encourage students to say something to a trusted adult, we also want to help them say something to their friends and peers. I know this is not an easy or quick process; change of this magnitude will always be difficult and come with resistance from those unwilling or unable to change.

With help from Ms. Cull-Michel’s leadership class, we have a week filled with opportunities for students to show their willingness to change and take back our culture. Though most of these opportunities will happen outside of class, there are a few that will occur within some classrooms as well as an all-school assembly on the first day to kick off the week.

Monday--Kickoff

All-school assembly after 2nd period to address threats to self and others, acts of intolerance and exclusion, and vaping nicotine and marijuana
Culture survey--students will receive citizenship points for their survey responses.

Tuesday--Selfies and Pledge sheet

Wednesday--Wear Green day

Leadership homeroom run to get names of trusted adults, to be displayed in the office.

Thursday--Vaping Nicotine and Marijuana

PPT for heavy metal ingestion facts and new generation duped by tobacco companies
Teachers pass out “Say Something Step Cards,” listing where to go for help, including online anonymous reporting.

Friday--Holocaust survivor

If classes are interested in joining this presentation, you are welcome to bring your class. Please let me know so we can prepare the right venue for the number of students and adults in attendance.

Logistics

Switch seminar from Friday to Monday, with all school assembly after 2nd period.

The number of instructional minutes will remain the same, but when each class begins and ends will be different.

Monday schedule:

Per. 1 7:40-8:31
Per. 2 8:37-9:33
Assembly 9:33-10:08 (we are using Friday’s seminar period)
Snack 10:08-10:22
Per. 3 10:28-11:19
Per. 4 11:25-12:16
Lunch 12:16-12:51
Per. 5 12:57-1:48
Per. 6 1:54-2:45

Friday schedule:

Per. 2 7:40-9:31
Snack 9:31-9:45
Per. 4 9:51-11:40
Lunch 11:40-12:15
Per. 6 12:21-2:15 (early dismissal due to no seminar this day)

Nordhoff Junior High & High School

Say Something Week Feb. 25- Mar. 1