Our year is off to a great start! Our school-based life skills programs have begun. The adult-monitored teen-led Westview Hills Middle School program has started its monthly core and booster curriculum sessions. Talented high school youth from our Township have been trained to facilitate the program. Of course, some added benefits for these high school students are building and enhancing their own skills in self-confidence, self-esteem, problem-solving, creativity, functioning within a group and role modeling healthy behaviors. The younger kids really look up to them!

Additionally, Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South and Westmont High School are having their SNOWBALL events on the weekends of November 14th and November 21st respectively. Snowball is a retreat that gives students the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills that help them navigate life in a healthy way in an environment that is safe and fun. Our staff will be actively involved at Camps Duncan and Henry Horner along with school staff and student leaders.
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The weekly life skills drug prevention curriculum, Too Good for Drugs, will begin again at Burr Ridge Middle School in September. The core program is taught to the 6th grade class and the booster is given at the 7th grade level. The program runs through the entire school year. Middle school leaders in the 7th and 8th grades will be trained to be mediators for their peers in a mediation program devoted to conflict resolution. This is the second full year the program will be utilized.

A communication campaign to inform parents about the “Not so Harmless” drug, marijuana, has been implemented through newsletters, posters and youth/adult activities. The campaign is particularly focused on residents who live in the southeast portion of our Township. The campaign is a result of local resident surveys and concern and the Illinois Youth Survey (administered through the schools).