Prevention Programs

 
The Wappingers Central School District Safety Plan includes several 
components:  School Safety Teams, District Crisis Team, Code of Conduct and Emergency Management 
Plan.  

The Wappingers Central School District also maintains a violence prevention 
program which includes the following programs:

Here's Looking at You - This program is preventive and presented in each K-6 
classroom.  All elementary teachers are formally trained to present this 
program which reduces violence and substance abuse and teaches social skills 
and refusal skills. 

Connect With Kids - CWK is a positive youth development program for the 
classroom and is being used in all elementary buildings.  The program 
focuses on values based curriculum. The secondary level has been provided 
with a parent component of the program. 

Living With Your 10 - 15 Year Old - This parent program is presented in 
February and March to parents of junior high school students.  Individuals 
are trained to present this to parents who acquire skills to enhance their 
child's adolescent year.  The focus is on communication and understanding 
the adolescent years in order to develop strategies that will prevent 
violence and substance abuse among teenagers. 

Student Mentoring Program - Staff and faculty members participate in formal 
training to acquire mentoring skills.  Each trained person is matched with a 
student to form a student/mentor relationship.  The building team of mentors 
meets on a regular basis to discuss successful strategies.  This program is 
employed in elementary, middle and secondary schools.  Research indicates 
that this is the most successful preventive program in the United States. 

Student Assistance Counselors - Student Assistance Counselors are assigned 
to secondary schools and provide prevention, intervention and reactive 
assistance for substance abuse and violence prevention. 

Peer Leadership - Secondary students are trained to become leaders within 
their school community.  They acquire skills which enable them to encourage 
peer involvement in school activities.

Youth Leadership - High school students and the Southern Dutchess Chamber of 
Commerce collaboratively work together to enhance student leadership and 
community efforts.  Students become involved in the community while 
developing school and community relationships and acquiring skills for life 
success. 

Peer Mediation - This program focuses on conflict resolution and peer 
mediation.  Students are trained to mediate peer conflicts.  This program is 
effectively implemented in our secondary schools. 

School Safety Teams - Our School Safety Teams are organized by building.  
They are voluntarily comprised of building administrators, a school 
psychologist, nurse, teachers, guidance counselors and staff members.  The 
team assesses building needs, suggests solutions to the needs, recommends 
key players who will develop and implement the suggestions, oversees the 
implementation and provides follow up.  The Safety Team also acts as the 
Crisis Management Team if the need occurs for reactive measures. 

The Wappingers Central School District's goals include preventive, 
interventive and reactive programs.  The administrators, teachers, related 
service personnel and staff collaborate to employ the most effective 
programs that enhance the educational environment and provide a safe school 
climate.  We also provide a variety of academic programs which are 
preventive and interventive; however, the above programs specifically 
address violence and substance abuse prevention.  We are particularly aware 
of the cooperative effort which is evident in our district.  

If you have any questions regarding any of these programs, please contact 
Mary Nicoletti at 298-5000 ext. 129 or email at 
Mary.Nicoletti@wappingersschools.org.