2019-2020 Sources of Strength at Sierra High School

Moderation state
funded
Grant Applicant
Sierra High School- Alicia Lampley-Gebel
School Site
Sierra High School
Grant Category
Life Skills & Health
Grant Date
2019-08-01T12:00:00
Description

Description

 

During the 2018-2019 school year, Excellence in Education Foundation funded a Sierra High School Sources of Strength grant oriented around student wellness. During the 2017-2018 school year, students used their Sources of Strength training to support school wide wellness. Because of student interest in building wellness and culture in their school, Sierra High School applied for a grant with Excellence in Education in order to fund activities for the following school year. As a result of expanding success with the program, we are applying again in order to further support our partnership with Makerspace and fund other year long activities envisioned by students.  

 

Sources of Strength is a TTUSD adopted comprehensive wellness training. Program designer’s characterize it as having, “a true preventative aim in building multiple sources of support around individuals so that when times get hard they have strengths to rely on” (Sources of Strength). Sources of Strength’s mission and vision is aimed primarily at suicide, violence, and substance abuse prevention by building upon the many strengths underlying wellness. At the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, ten Sierra High School (SHS) students attended a Sources of Strength training at the TTUSD Office. For the first time since SOS implementation, students at SHS decided to form a Sources of Strength group at SHS in order to promote ongoing wellness and build upon a positive school climate and culture.

 

Students meet about once a month during their lunch to discuss wellness related issues and concerns, and to organize monthly activities and/or educational opportunities that relate to and promote the SOS pillars of wellness: mental health, family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spiritual wellness, and medical access. SOS has become an integral part of our school community. Activities (which are held after school, and/or during 5th and 6th periods) bring students together and promote well-being and connectedness. SOS also collaborates with community partners, like the Truckee Library and Tahoe Forest Hospital , to affect a broader understanding of mental health issues in the community.

Benefits of Program

Benefits

 

Sierra High School prides itself on a safe and welcoming space for students who have a variety of learning needs and goals. Some of the goals outlined by Sources of Strength training include: overall adult-youth connectedness and bonding, youth help seeking from trusted adults, and coping skills and health promotion of youth based on protective factors. Sierra High School is able to support such goals by providing an environment that is conducive to fostering connections and help seeking. The SOS group on campus works hard to promote protective factors related to wellness and increase such opportunities for connection.

 

Benefits to students are directly related to the pillars of wellness (refer to description). Other benefits include increased positive feelings related to school safety and culture, and increased opportunities for bonding and connection to staff and peers.

 

During the 2018-2019 school year students provided insight into their experiences and how wellness this year has benefited them personally and how it has benefited their school as a whole. Sasha Nicole Del Principe, a new student to our school, and a student whom has participated in Makerspace and other SOS led activities feels that “these activities are important to us because it gives us a chance to get closer to our staff and our community. Before I came here, people said that this school (Sierra High)  is like a ‘family’ and now I know why, because of things like this”. Dilan Cizana, an SOS leader states that “students need experiences that get them to try new things because it has connections to real life”. Giselle Escobar comments that activities put on by SOS are important because “it is what separates us from other schools and helps us feel like we have the same exposure to activities as the comprehensive high school. Also opportunities like Maker Space give us experience in building our skills in other areas.”

Success of Program

Success

 

Students consistently state that they feel the need for other types of enrichment and wellness Since the implementation of SOS in September of 2017, students have organized routine monthly activities for Sierra High School students (and even families of students) to participate in. Activities may vary year to year based on need and availability of resources, but in the 2018/2019 school year students organized: baking pan de meurto for school wide celebration, a school-wide Thanksgiving potluck and gratitude practice, school door art, healthy eating education and hands on cooking for wellness classes (6 sessions) in partnership with Tahoe Forest Hospital, and two sessions of Maker Space, one 5 week session and one 10 week session where students learned woodwork, ceramics, textiles and metal work.

 

The structural nature of Sierra High School is such that students do not have a plethora of extra-curricular activities on site. Students are welcome (and encouraged) to join after school clubs, sports, enrichment, etc. at Truckee or North Tahoe High Schools, but this presents challenges for many students. Knowing that our structure is different and knowing the challenges our students face, the staff creates a safe and unique school culture in which students have access to different types of activities that promote wellness and enrichment. SOS is a primary on-site option for students who are interested in bettering their school community, and who want to engage in leadership activities.

 

SOS is one of many ways that, through student voice and advocacy, students support one another and build upon the welcoming and family-like climate that is Sierra High School. As one student describes it during the student update at the TTUSD Board Meeting “the SOS club is what we use to bring students together, like a family in school”.

 

Participation varies from activity to activity. It ranges from whole school/community participation to smaller groups of 7-15 students. Turn out among students is routine. Activities are planned in such a way the barriers to attendance (like transportation) are resolved. Those who do not directly participate have an understanding of what is offered and know that is a part of a positive school climate, as it is announced at our school circle meetings that occur twice a week.

Implementation

Implementation

 

At the start of the year, students undergo a Sources of Strength training at the district office. In this training, students gain a greater understanding of the pillars of wellness, what wellness means to them personally, how it looks school wide, and how to support one another. Following the training, student then meet once a month to continue organizing activities that will further the SOS mission and vision.

 

Students meet monthly to voice their concerns for school and community issues, to organize activities that reflect the current wellness needs of the school, and to promote broader awareness within the community.

 

The 2019-2020 budget is based off this year’s activities, projected projects, and collaborations. Grant monies will be used to support monthly activities and supplies (primarily consumables) determined by students and staff in the 19/20 school year,and to fund a Makerspace partnership (one 5 week course for 10 students. Makerspace offers matching funds, so the grant would pay for half of the funds and Makerspace would pay for the other half. Activities vary greatly depending on student input and interest.

 

SOS at Sierra High School is overseen by the Alicia Lampley, the school counselor, Cindy Maciel, STEPP program director and SOS trainer, and Kim Bradley, TTUSD Wellness Coordinator and SOS trainer. Students do not have to be Sources of Strength trained in order to join or participate. Activities are open to all student at Sierra High School.

Can you share this grant with your grade level or subject team?

yes

Sustainability
Sustainability

The TTUSD Wellness Program, coordinated by Kim Bradley has monies set aside to train students annually and to contribute to related activities for all three high schools. See budget for expected income. SOS also relies on some school funds, community partnerships (like with the library and the hospital) and staff donations of time and resources for activities and coordination. Excellence in Education funding would help expand and support future wellness endeavors and initiatives.
Amount Funded
$1010.00
Budget Notes

See budget proposal 

Other funding sources

Sierra High School site ops and TTUSD Wellness Program

File Uploads
19_20 SOS Budget (1).pdf (50.81 KB)