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Straight Talk 2008 at PVMS Offers Solutions and Hope to PV Community
 | | GSA/VOICES Presenters from PVHS Katie Mahoney, Elyssa Brown, School Psychologist and club advisor, Jason Kane, Liz Policello, and Mike Herelle |
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On Tuesday, March 11, several hundred Putnam Valley Middle School students and parents attended the annual "Straight Talk" program at PVMS. Straight Talk is a series of workshops designed to educate the members of our educational community about important health and safety issues. The program consists of two "blocks" of workshops followed by an informal social time, where people can enjoy refreshments and reflect on the evening's events.
Workshop topics included PVMS Bully Busters (Presenter: Sixth and Eighth Grade Bully Busters ); When the Going Gets Tough and the Road of Life Gets a Little Rough! (Presenter: Coach Matt Moore, C-4 Quadriplegic, retired P.E. and health teacher); Stand up to Big Tobacco! (Presenters: Anthony Massarelli, POW'R Against Tobacco Coordinator and Theresa Del Vecchio, Prevention Educator Putnam Family & Community Services); What You Need to Know About Your Children and Their Friend, the Internet (Presenters: PVMS Assistant Principal, Dr. David Fine and Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Richard Mansfield); Just Ask Us . . . (Presenter: Putnam County Narcotics Department); Unhealthy Relationships. . .When abuse touches us! (Presenter: Putnam County Women's Center); The Parent Dilemma. . .how to drug proof our kids and Associate Director/Community Relations, Arms Acres) ; Eating Disorders-what you need to know! (Presenter: PVHS teacher and coach, Heather Miench); and "The Blooey Project"....The issues of namecalling and bullying (Presenter: Student members of PVHS VOICES - Voices of Individuals Creating Environments that are Safe) In this workshop high school students from the GSA/ VOICES club (Gay Straight Alliance/ Voices of Individuals Creating Environments that are Safe).
The Putnam Valley Health Advisory Council, chaired by PVMS health teacher Pam Darreff, is the sponsor for this long-running event, with support from the Putnam Valley PTA. Knowledgeable and articulate healthcare professionals from Putnam and Westchester, as well as PVCSD staff members, local law enforcement officials, and Putnam Valley students themselves, made up the list of presenters. Student, teacher, and parent volunteers from the Middle School acted as hosts/presenters for each of the workshops.
Principal Ed Hallisey had this to say, ""Straight Talk now enjoys the status of a tradition in this district thanks to the Health Advisory Council under the direction of Mrs. Darreff. It is a powerful event for our students and parents, and it's through her leadership that our community continues to share this experience We are
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