The Becker T.R.A.K. (Together Reaching Area Kids) team held an open house in the Teaching and Learning Center at BHS to share information about building developmental assets for students and adults in the community. 

 

The program featured presenters Heather Eigen and Gretchen Bordson, both T.R.A.K. members and parents of Becker students.  Eigen is also a member of the Sherburne Substance Use Prevention Coalition (SUP), and had travelled to Indianapolis this past summer for an intensive national training session.

 

The presentation involved several videos, as well as handouts dealing with developmental assets for youth in the areas of support, empowerment, setting boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, developing positive values, social competencies and developing a positive identity in young people.

 

Other information dealt with ideas for adults working to build developmental assets for young people in their communities, ranging from simple things like a daily greeting to supporting efforts to find safe spaces for young people to congregate and volunteering in the schools as a way to help nurture positive attitudes.

 

The presentation also dealt with the results of a student survey taken last year, with high scores in the areas of family and school support, and gaps in the areas of positive identity and constructive use of time in the results.

 

The theme of building positive assets was tied to the process of repetition, Eigen said, in that the process is constant in the development of youth, with no beginning and no ending defined.

 

Superintendent Dr. Stephen Malone said that the presentation is also available for other organizations, and a suggestion from the audience to take the information to the other district schools also received positive support from the presenters.

 

One of the video presentations focused on the “Dream Team” group in the schools, which are students who have pledged to refrain from drugs and alcohol to focus on academics and sports success.  Peer pressure is a very powerful tool at this stage of student development, in terms of students following the actions of the established student leaders.

 

BHS Asst. Principal Mark Kolbinger spoke about the new Wellness Center, which began with one therapist and now uses the services of five, with 19 students currently making use of the program.  The center was made possible by donations of $10,000 in furniture and design work by Becker Furniture World, with additional help from the Clear Lake Lions Club, Cold Spring Carpet and the Dylan’s Hope Foundation, which also assists in funding for student who have limited or no insurance that covers therapy.  The Center Also offers a food shelf component for students in families with need, Kolbinger said.

 

The effort is a community partnership, Kolbinger said, and shared information is key to success.  He cited the problem food services was having with getting students interested in having breakfast at school at the start of each day.  He noted that, once they began to offer “Grab and Go” breakfasts, student used to fast-paced food consumption, responded immediately, and now 95 kids are taking advantage of the program.