Jim Thomas
Columns
November 27, 2008 08:03 PM
Jim Thomas
The mangled wreckage of a GMC van is towed onto the south parking area near the entrance to Stouffville District Secondary School.
Students, awe-struck, stop and stare at the gruesome sight, fearing one or more persons may have died in this grisly chaos of twisted steel.
Two people had, both teens and both victims of an impaired driver.
Down the hall, not far from the main school office, is an encased black coffin accompanied by a statement so startling, students again stop and stare.
Under an RIP cross is a mirror and a message that reads: “This could be you if you decide to drink and drive or ride with someone who’s impaired. Don’t end up here.”
Shock treatment? It’s meant to be, all part of an alcohol awareness program initiated three years ago at SDSS and other high schools in York Region.
With telling effect.
“The safety and well-being of our students is of primary concern,” says Beverley Madigan, principal at SDSS. “At Stouffville High, we focus on prevention education as much as we can, to ensure our young people are well prepared to make good, common sense decisions. We all support education programs that are relevant, interactive and innovative, each meant to captivate the interests of youth.”
Heading up this semester’s alcohol awareness campaign is English/history staff teacher Efy Marinis assisted by vice-principal Ron Zoratto. The program was initiated three years ago by former vice-principal Reid Wilshire with Ms Marinis as his assistant. It comes under the classification of empowered student partnership and includes everything from cyber bullying to substance abuse.
Close associates are York Regional Police and MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).
“The police have been wonderful,” Ms. Marinis says, “especially Const. Todd Snooks. He’s helped us so much.
“Our key goal is to provide a safe school environment,” she stresses.
The timing of alcohol awareness was geared to commence prior to the school’s annual semi-formal dance, Ms. Marinis explains.
The ESP program, involving a committee of 16, accommodates the entire school. Lead roles have been taken by students Rebecca Jeschke, Carly Sulman and Miranda Clayton.
Ms Marinis, an honours graduate of York University, admits to an intense love of participation in extra-curricular activities.
“It’s one of my passions,” she says.
It’s important, she explains, to provide students with skills and tools that will prove beneficial later in life.
“They’ll come to know they can make a difference,” she said.
The program, she explains, attempts to abolish the oft-held belief by a segment of youth that “it can never happen to me”.
At one assembly, she said, the guest speaker was a young man who had lost his race with a speeding train. In doing so, he also lost an arm and a leg.
Several workshops have also been held dealing with substance abuse, stress management and suicide prevention.
“Hopefully, it will allow our young people to grow in other aspects of life,” she says.
Ms Madigan said a representative from MADD provided students an opportunity to operate a car programmed to simulate driving.
Each boy and girl was given a special set of goggles so each could experience first-hand the effects of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
“Our hope is that our students will use this experience as a life lesson so they make healthy choices around safe driving practices now and in the future,” she said.
“Our caring and dedicated staff continue to do everything they can to help students maximize their potential.”
Ms Marinis admits she’s not so naïve as to expect all students to remember everything.
“But if they remember the crumpled van and the murky coffin, we’ll have accomplished something,” she said.
Jim Thomas is a Stouffville resident who has written for area newspapers for more than 50 years.