Learning to Cope: Teens & Stress

Too many of today's children have straight teeth and crooked morals. ~Unknown high school principal

How should we as parents help our teenagers from folding under today's pressures? First off, focus on the positives your child has accomplished. We all like to hear good things said about what we do, how we act and the decisions we make. Never start off a conversation by telling them you are disappointed and they need to change. Remember, you once we like them, a teenager, facing similar life changing choices. The world today, is much different than it was when we were young. Next, look for signs. Be involved and stay involved in their lives. Make sure that they don't become overloaded with today's pressures. Finally, teach stress management. Offer different ways to deal with stress. Some strategies include; exercising, following a healthy diet and keeping a journal.

Allow your teenager to express themselves through communication. Keep in mind that communication is never a one-sided conversation. You need to listen as much, if not more than you talk. Parents tend to think they have all the answers because they have been there before. I agree that most have a tremendous array of knowledge, however the pressures teenagers are facing today is so much different and as parents we don't have all the answers.

For example, teenage girls often feel they need to meet three basics requirements of fitting in; to be popular, to be pretty and to have a "guy friend". The order of how they obtain these goals changes minute-by-minute. Should something be said about their looks, friends or "guy friend" during the day, many a time they have lost an entire learning day if not more at school. This shows the amount of pressure they and others place on them. Teenagers need to be reassured on a daily basis to be true to themselves. Don't give in to what others think is important. Only they can make decisions about their life.

Many teenagers become involved in risk making decisions because of wanting to accomplish those three goals noted above. Risk taking includes drinking alcohol, taking drugs and sexual relationships. These risk-taking decisions may forever change their life. Indicators are present and must be identified immediately before damage occurs.

Teens are not always equipped to handle on their own the physical, emotional and psychological changes they experience during adolescence. Parents MUST be there to offer guidance and support! Parents must learn more about the current pressures middle school and high school teens are facing today.

A real informative website to help parents is Parents: The Anti-Drug site. Again, any words that are in red, when clicked on, leads to a link on the Internet. Within this site you will read information on other pressures teens have, some have already been named above; others include; To fit in, To be sexually active, To pick on others, To be successful and To be perfect. What can parents do?

The site addressed above will also give you much more information on drugs that teens are experimenting with today. One of the biggest increases I have seen through the years is the use of prescription drugs. Many adults who have prescriptions fail to safeguard them at home and/or never finish using the entire amount thus leaving them behind. Know the signs, be informed and empower yourself as a knowledgeable parent. Don't live in the world of when you were a teen, times have forever changed! You will need to change with them in order to help your teenager get through the pressures of their youth. Watch the Superbowl Ad on safeguarding your teens.

Strawberry Quick?

This is a new drug known as 'strawberry quick '.
There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that we all need to be aware of.

There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry pop rocks (the candy that sizzles and 'pops' in your mouth). It also smells like strawberry and it is being handed out to kids in school yards. They are calling it strawberry meth or strawberry quick.

Kids are ingesting this thinking that it is candy and being rushed off to the hospital in dire condition. It also comes in chocolate, peanut butter, cola, cherry, grape and orange.

Please instruct your children not to accept candy from strangers and even not to accept candy that looks like this from a friend (who may have been given it and believed it is candy) and to take any that they may have to a teacher, principal, etc. immediately.

Pass this email on to as many people as you can (even if they don't have kids) so that we can raise awareness and hopefully prevent any tragedies from occurring.

Energy Drinks or Alcopops! Know the difference!

Do you really know what your kids are drinking? Can you tell which of these contains alcohol? NOTE: These are NOT energy drinks - despite the visual similarity.

Tilt is an energy drink, containing alcohol. It is marketed as a "Premium Malt Beverage". Its active ingredients include caffeine, ginseng, and Guarana. Its alcoholic content by volume varies, from 6.6 in the berry flavor and up to 8% in the lemon lime, higher than most American beer (commonly 3-6%), and slightly higher than competitor Sparks (7% maximum). Joose is an alcoholic energy drink and is growing in popularity due to its relatively high alcohol content (9.0-9.9% ABV) compared with other beverages generally available at a convenience store such as beer (typically 5-6% ABV) and other alcoholic energy drinks (typically 8% ABV). Joose is comprised of malt beverage, caffeine, taurine, ginseng, and natural coloring. Joose is currently available in 23.5 oz orange, red, or blue cans on a black background. Sparks is a caffeinated alcohol beverage, one of the first such beverages. Its active ingredients caffeine, taurine, and ginseng are common to energy drinks; however, its additional focus on alcohol is not. Its packaging states a 6% alcoholic content by volume. Sparks currently is available in 16oz silver cans with bright orange tops, with a "+" printed near the top and a "-" printed near the bottom, to give the can a battery-like appearance. A diet version "Sparks Light" with a bright blue top is also produced. A higher alcohol version (7.0%) called "Sparks Plus" is available in both 16oz and 24oz cans and has a black top. 3SUM is an Alcopop "infused" with the energy components caffeine, ginseng, and taurine. 3SUM is considered an energy drink and a flavored alcoholic beverage. 3SUM is available in 4 different flavors: original, apple, tropical, and watermelon. Four is a 16oz canned alcoholic malt beverage sold in the United States and produced by Phusion Projects Inc. of Chicago. It contains 6.0%ABV as well as carbonation, sugar and artificial flavoring, similar to other alcopops. Its name is derived from its four other ingredients, caffeine, taurine, guarana, and FDA approved wormwood oil, the species of which is unknown. Rockstar Twenty-One is available in two varieties and both contain an alcohol content of 6.9% by volume.

Alcohol is a depressant. The term “alcoholic energy drink” is an oxymoron. There is a large body of research showing that a drunken person plus caffeine still equals a drunken person. That being said, a number of brewers have been jumping in on the action. That lucrative energy drink market is just too tempting. In many ways it’s a similar situation to the “hardcore” energy drinks. It’s all about marketing - and many of these drinks look just like a typical energy drink (and apparently fool store clerks too). Virtually all of them are “infused with caffeine, ginseng and guarana” and are 6-12% alcoholic by volume. Industry Sales Strategies:

Three-Point Plan for Targeting Youth; create brand confusion with nonalcoholic versions, provide a cheap alternative to mixing energy drinks with alcohol, deploy youth-friendly grassroots and viral marketing.

The Exploding popularity of Energy Drinks; 500 new energy drink products introduced worldwide in 2006. Energy drink sales = $3.2 billion! 31% of 12-17 year olds are regular consumers verse 22% of 25-34 year olds!

Unexcused Absences

The State of Wisconsin defines Truancy under State Statute 118.163(d) as a pupil who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse under 118.15 and 118.16(4) for part or all of any day on which school is held during a school semester. Furthermore, Habitual Truancy is defined under 118.16(1)a as a pupil who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of 5 or more days on which school is held during a school semester.

Now that you know the definitions, parents whose children who fall into one or both of the above categories may receive a written letter from the school addressing the unexcused absence. This letter helps to alert parents of the school's concern. It is within these absences, students tend to fall behind, placing them further and further from an education they so rightly need to be successful.

Calls and letters are intended to notify parents and students that corrective action is needed immediately. If corrective action is taken, then no contact by the School Resource Officer will be conducted. Should telephone calls and/or letters go unanswered and no improvement is made as to attendance, then municipal citations can be issued. Should a student continue to be habitually truant, then the school may file a truancy petition with Human Services asking for the County to become actively involved and court system to mandate the child to attend school. This of course, would not be needed should the family work with the school and get their child back into attendance.

Municipal Citations that are issued carry a mandatory court date. Truancy citations carry a bond if found guilty to not exceed $50, where as an Habitual Truancy citations carries a bond of less than $500.

Under another City Ordinance #11.118 Contribute to the Truancy of a child, parents and/or guardians can be issued citations for a role in the absence of the child. This usually occurs with elementary and some middle school age students. The bond for a violation of this ordinance is $109. It is understood that high school students because of their age, should be able to get to school on their own, without the active role of a parent as with much younger children.

A Game Kids Shouldn't Play

No matter how cute the name “the choking game” may sound, it is still a deadly game. This game is worse than Russian Roulette. Russian Roulette you can “win” at. The choking game reduces the amount of oxygenated blood to the brain. The subject passes out, thousands upon thousands of brain cells die, which never are rejuvenated. The result is some form of long term brain damage, even a vegetative state or death. The extent of brain damage may not be known for many years.

When the subject passes out, it is due to the loss of oxygen to the brain. The brain twitches, or has a seizure as oxygen and blood are allowed to flow freely again. The “high” that is felt just prior to passing out is addictive. The first few times, subjects play this deadly game in the presence of others, then later in the privacy of their own bedrooms. Many participants practicing this game alone use belts or other devices around their necks to stop this flow of oxygenated blood to their brain. As the person passes out, no one is present to help them from sufficating. Some suffer death from strangulation and more often than not, coroners are ruling their deaths as suicides, not accidental. More than 150 boys and girls died last year as a result of “the choking game”. How many more children suffered the same end result but were ruled suicides? The numbers could be much higher.

Have you hear about the choking game? The fact that you have is a problem in itself. The fact that you haven’t is a problem because it “is” occurring right in your community. Boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 16 are playing it. There is no way to play it safely. Children need to be told Telling does NOT equal Tattling when you are helping someone. Mistakes are poor choices you learn from. Children feel that their mistakes can be fixed by mom or dad. Playing this deadly game mom and dad can not fix the end results! Kids are dying because they lack information. More girls than boys play the game. The difference between suicide and death by the choking game is “intent”. Law enforcement when investigating a death such as this needs to consider; is there evidence of depression, is the weight of the individual fully off the ground, is there intent? In the past many deaths were ruled falsely as suicide. Check You Tube by typing “choking game” for video footage. Another You Tube video is found under “thought you died”. Do not use videos to educate children that depict life threatening choices.

Some people will ask; if you talk about the choking game with kids are we planting a seed that will lead to them trying it? The seed is already planted, by friends knowing about the activity, the internet and by You Tube. The Choking Game is not new, there is evidence dating back to the Egyptians and the Pyramids that it was practiced. Parents need to be aware; this awareness empowers them to become educated thus keeping their children safer. For additional information go to GASP.

The Choking Game fact sheet in .pdf format. Click on this link to see a video footage from GASP, Games Adolescents Shouldn't Play.

ChalleNGe Yourself

The Wisconsin Army National Guard Challenge Academy or Badger Challenge Mission Statement is, "To offer our Cadets the opportunity to develop the strength of character and the life skills necessary to become successful, responsible citizens.

The Wisconsin National Guard Challenge Academy is a 17-month program for at-risk youth ages 16 years 9 months through 18. Academy cadets complete a 22-week residential phase during which the cadets can earn their High School Equivalencey Diploma and change their outlooks and viewpoints on life and character. During the 22-week residential phase cadets learn to put together a Post-Residential Action Plan (PRAP) with the help of staff members assigned to each cadet. This plan will give them a road map for their future. Following the residential phase each cadets participates in a 12-month post-residential phase where the cadets go on to jobs, post-secondary education, or military service. During the post-residential phase the cadets meet regularly with their adult mentors and work to put into service the values and concepts learned during their 22-week schooling.

Cadets come from all socioeconomic groups and all backgrounds, but all must be at-risk youth as defined by the State of Wisconsin. Traditionally cadets are high school drop-outs, habitual truants, expelled students, or students critically deficient in credits. Cadets must be free of drugs, mentally and physically healthy, not on probation and not be awaiting sentencing, be convicted of, or have charges pending for a felony.

The most important aspect of a cadet is the desire to change one’s life .

The National Guard`s Youth ChalleNGe Program began in 1991, when the House Joint Armed Service Committee tasked the National Guard to develop a plan to help at-risk teens and "add value to America". By providing values, skills, education, and discipline to young people using the structure and esprit de corps of the military model, the Youth ChalleNGe Program began a three year pilot program in 1993. Fifteen states participated in the pilot program, which became a permanent National Guard program in 1996.

In 1998, Wisconsin became one of 26 states to offer a 22-week, National Guard-sponsored Challenge Program designed specifically for high school dropouts and habitual truants between the ages of 16 and 18 years of age. The Challenge Academy admits qualifying young men and women to a 17-month long program of life-changing experiences.

I was honored to have been invited to Class #20's graduation held Thursday, June 12, 2008 at Mauston High School. There were 115 graduates earning their HSED and many continued on in the National Guard or other Military Services. These students have many choices to make and their decisions don't get any easier, however now they have them to make. Graduates can go onto higher education, the military or jobs. The road isn't easy for them, many go back to the environment in which put them at ChalleNGe to begin with. Where they have come from, where they have gone, what they have become, will aid in their choices. They have been shown a new beginning, it's up to each of them to start a new!

I saw a packed house in the gymnasium, consisting of families, friends, teachers these graduates have had along the way, mentors and many others who have stood along-side these graduates through thick and thin. We were there to honor the choice they made to dig themselves out of the hole and reach for the sky! You see, these 115 young people at one time took risk taking choices and buried themselves, however something inside each one of them wanted to become successful. Their determination was strong. They needed to show others, but most importantly themselves they can succeed. Congratulations to Class 20! You have become role models for other students who have fallen into their own living hell. Help them to succeed, because that's what it's all about! You are an inspiration to many!

Welcome WHS to the SRO Blog in the news!

Welcome Parents, Students, Staff and Visitors to Watertown High School located at 825 Endeavour Drive, Watertown, WI (920)262-7502 to the first ever blog site created to provide viewers with incite into safety concerns that affect all who enter our schools of the Watertown School District.

I am Officer Phil Neidner of the Watertown Police Department, currently assigned to the Watertown High School and Middle School as a School Resource Officer or SRO. I have been a police officer for Watertown since October of 1985! When asked prior to being hired what one of my goals were, I replied, "To work with students." I spent the first nine years working 2nd and 3rd Watch as a Patrol Officer. During the 1994/95 school year I was assigned to teach Drug Abuse Resistance Education or D.A.R.E. within the School District to 5th grade students. I held this position until the 2004/05 school year when I replaced the then SRO. My first term ends after this school year (2007/08) and I have recently been notified that I have been extended for an additional four year term! I will now be able to continue such programs as Students Are Watching (S.A.W.) a crime prevention program that allows students to anonymously report knowledge of drugs and/or weapons on school district property. You can read more about this program and others in the weeks to come within this blog.

The SRO is a unique assignment allowing the officer, students, parents and school staff to work together to develop a safer learning environment. The SRO works not only as a police officer, but as a counselor, teacher, friend, role-model and resource person. I welcome any student to stop in my office just to say "hi" if nothing else.

For the majority of my law enforcement career I have worked with young people. These same kids are the future and time needs to be spent with them developing their goals. This "time" comes in many forms; eating lunch with them, seeing them at a sporting or musical event to simply saying "good morning". Develop their potential! Spend the time, it "IS" worth it!

Please feel free to post concerns or topics of future blog articles. Visit often as new stories will surface from time to time. For more information on what is an SRO go to the National Association of School Resource Officers.