November Newsletter
River
Valley High School Alternative Education
November, 2014
Service Learning and
Social Studies 400 students with Passages staff with donated items from the
October drive.
Students Raise Awareness of Domestic
Violence
Fae Dilley
October was domestic violence month.
The statistics regarding domestic violence are alarming. For example,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four
women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Each year an estimated 3.3 million children are
exposed to violence against their mothers or female caretakers by family
members. (American Psychological Association, Violence and the Family:
Report of the APA Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family,1996)
River Valley Service Learning and
Social Studies 400 students worked together throughout the month of October
to raise awareness of this issue and help those in need. Students created a
Wall of Ribbons and bulletin board in the high school to raise awareness. In
addition, students wrote domestic violence statistics and facts on the
sidewalk outside the high school the first week of October.
Due to lack of funding from all
levels of government, it is difficult for Wisconsin domestic violence
shelters and programs to accommodate domestic violence victims requesting
services. Mid-October, Service Learning and Social Studies 400
students organized and implemented a school supply, art supply, and book
drive for Passages, a shelter in Richland Center for victims of domestic
violence. River Valley High School students and staff donated over a hundred
items in the week-long drive. "I am very proud of all the hard work
Service Learning and Social Studies 400 students put into the awareness
campaigns which included inviting guest speakers to speak to students about
the issue. I am also proud of the students for organizing and implementing
the drive for Passages, especially Fae
Dilley because it was initially her idea and she's put the most time into
these projects” Lea Hansen, RVHS Social Studies 400 teacher said.
Students also invited guest speakers to visit
their classroom to speak about the topic of domestic violence. Officer Andy
Kurek spoke to Social Studies 400 students early in the month and later in
the month staff from Passages gave a presentation to the class. Officer Andy Kurek
shared this piece of advice with the students, “Young people need to know,
domestic violence is not normal behavior. Everyone doesn't do it.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, leave the relationship.” Marlee J. Gromoshak, a student in
first period Social Studies 400 said, “I learned that there actually is a
bigger problem with domestic violence than I really thought. I thought
that it was a valuable learning experience to have the speakers come in.”
If you are a victim of domestic violence there is
help available. Passages in Richland Center, a program for survivors of
domestic violence and sexual assault has a 24 hour hotline for those in need
of help. The number is 1-800-HEAL
(4325).
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What’s Happening
in Alt-Ed?
Social Studies 400 Students are embarking on their 30 Day Challenges this month. Ask your child what positive change
they are making in their lives this month.
To learn more about the idea behind this project, visit:
What students are saying about the project:
“My 30 day challenge is a journal. Every day
for 30 days I’m writing about a different topic. So far I am really enjoying
my project. I designed a journal and decorated it. I also wrote in it everyday
so far.” – Shalee Swartwood
Fabson
Jepson
and Tyler Noble are giving random
people compliments every day for a month. Fabson thought it would be a good project because that person might be
having a bad day and saying something nice might make their day better.
Emily Joyce said, “I'm going to learn how to
play a new instrument in 30 days. The instrument being oboe. It's going well
so far. I learned 4 notes!”
United States
History 510 students are preparing to take and pass
(with 90% accuracy) the United States Citizenship Test (the same test
immigrants must pass to become U. S. Citizens).
If you would like to learn more about this test or what
we are doing in class, visit:
http://hansengeorge.blogspot.com/2014/11/citizenship-tests-civic-literacy-tests.html
English 509 & 510 have been reading Perks of Being a Wallflower. We’ve
been working on a variety of projects relating to the book this past month.
World Studies 509 students are just finishing up a unit on North
America. For their final assessment, students are working on their “Sell a
State Projects.”
To learn more about this project, visit this website:
http://hansengeorge.blogspot.com/2012/12/sell-state-project.html
  Officer Andy speaks to Social Studies 400 students |
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