Get REAL program to span entire school year

FORT RECOVERY - Get REAL - previously a week-long character-building program held in the spring - will be integrated throughout the entire school year at Fort Recovery Middle School.

"Why don't we take this theme and talk about it all year long try to incorporate it into the curriculum and not just a few days at the end of the year?" middle school principal Matt Triplett asked board of education members this week.

The program - Get Responsible Enough About Life - debuted at Coldwater in the spring of 1998 and has been adopted by school districts in St. Henry, Fort Recovery and Rockford.

This year's theme at Fort Recovery is Pay It Forward, a philosophy of responding to acts of kindness by doing similar acts for others, thus perpetuating a cycle of thoughtfulness.

Motivational speaker Harvey Alston introduced the theme and discussed anti-bullying efforts to students in grades 5-8 on Sept. 3, who Triplett said were receptive to the concepts.

Students can purchase a Pay It Forward bracelet for $1 with proceeds to be donated to an organization chosen by the children.

The Get REAL committee members agreed the program should be expanded throughout the entire year because of its positive influence on students, Triplett said.

School officials are brainstorming ways to meld the theme of Pay It Forward into the curriculum. One idea is to link it to the annual Operation Christmas Child program which students fill boxes with practical gifts like toothbrushes and send them to needy children in other countries.

"We're excited about spreading this out," Triplett said, noting the great potential of a year-long Get REAL program.

In other news, middle school principal Tracy Hein-Evers said the Pint Size Heroes Program intended to encourage blood donations will be held 1-7 p.m. Oct. 28 in the elementary gymnasium.

"Each student who invites an adult to come to donate will be recognized with an American Red Cross thank-you gift," Jeri Garringer, the Mercer County donor recruitment representative, wrote in a letter to parents and guardians.

The event is dedicated to Ally Bea Roessner of Fort Recovery, a young girl who is going through chemotherapy and has been saved by blood donations, according to a brochure.

The program educates and familiarizes students with giving blood so they feel comfortable when they are old enough to donate, and it helps find adult donors.

Each blood donation can save up to three lives.

"It's a good cause obviously but with it being on the same night as our building night, (it will) probably help us get more people from the community to come and visit the school," Hein-Evers said about the open house set for 4:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 28.

In other news, board members,

• approved the FCCLA Leadership Training Camp overnight field trip.

• accepted and thanked Wendel Poultry Service and SpeckShots for donations to the school.

• accepted the resignation of high school swim coach Jill Vaughn.

• approved an agreement with Rehabilitative Services Inc. for certified athletic trainers, physical therapists and other personnel to be available through the end of the school year.

• employed Peggy Siefring as a non-teaching employee and approved a personal service contract with Janet Pottkotter.

• employed Jill Walter and Janelle Braun as classified substitutes.

• approved supplemental contracts for Eric Hemmelgarn, high school track coach; Deidre Grieshop, high school assistant track coach; and Melinda Heitkamp, junior high track coach.

• set a board work session for 6 p.m. Oct. 15. The regular board meeting will follow.