NewsStudent LifeService
SST Strives for Campus Recognition
Dec 5, 2000 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
To enhance its impact on campus, the Student Support Team (SST) is fine-tuning goals and making a few changes. The SST is a group of trained members of the Darlington community (faculty, support staff, and students) who intervene with and support Darlington students with drug and alcohol abuse problems and eating disorders.
A vital goal of the team is to increase student involvement. In an attempt to acquire student members who are committed, approachable, and motivated, this year, the team adjusted its membership protocol. For the first time, interested Upper School students were invited to submit essays for consideration for membership.
After the selection process was complete, student members attended a class to learn how to help their peers –observing various ways to respond to numerous situations and emotions. “It was helpful to learn about the feelings that specific issues tend to open up, and why it is important for people to get help in handling specific problems,” SST student member Lindsay Martin, junior, said. “There are a lot of great suggestions from students. It feels wonderful to get such enthusiastic responses from other members for the ideas I give.” Several ideas being considered presently are maintaining a bulletin board, displaying posters that present issues of concern, and discussing topics in the student newspaper, The Darlingtonian.
These ideas are possible solutions for another team goal: to increase visibility and awareness. “We need to get fundamental information out there: how to make a referral, common issues, and names of team members,” SST member Jill Pate, director of personal counseling, said.
This team is not involved with the disciplinary committee. Referrals come from students, faculty, and parents. According to Martin a common misconception is that student SST members and others will know the referred names. Every effort is made to assure complete confidentiality.
Faculty and staff members of the SST are Diane Ogletree, Nancy Ivester, and Chad Warner at the Middle School, and Sarah Woodfin, Randa Mixon, Jill Pate, Tim Foote, Casey Zimmer, Chris Bettera, Marisa Ortega, Marit Miniszewski, and Mollie Avery, at the Upper School.
A vital goal of the team is to increase student involvement. In an attempt to acquire student members who are committed, approachable, and motivated, this year, the team adjusted its membership protocol. For the first time, interested Upper School students were invited to submit essays for consideration for membership.
After the selection process was complete, student members attended a class to learn how to help their peers –observing various ways to respond to numerous situations and emotions. “It was helpful to learn about the feelings that specific issues tend to open up, and why it is important for people to get help in handling specific problems,” SST student member Lindsay Martin, junior, said. “There are a lot of great suggestions from students. It feels wonderful to get such enthusiastic responses from other members for the ideas I give.” Several ideas being considered presently are maintaining a bulletin board, displaying posters that present issues of concern, and discussing topics in the student newspaper, The Darlingtonian.
These ideas are possible solutions for another team goal: to increase visibility and awareness. “We need to get fundamental information out there: how to make a referral, common issues, and names of team members,” SST member Jill Pate, director of personal counseling, said.
This team is not involved with the disciplinary committee. Referrals come from students, faculty, and parents. According to Martin a common misconception is that student SST members and others will know the referred names. Every effort is made to assure complete confidentiality.
Faculty and staff members of the SST are Diane Ogletree, Nancy Ivester, and Chad Warner at the Middle School, and Sarah Woodfin, Randa Mixon, Jill Pate, Tim Foote, Casey Zimmer, Chris Bettera, Marisa Ortega, Marit Miniszewski, and Mollie Avery, at the Upper School.
