During their Trusted Adult campaign , the SOS team placed the names of their adults on a hallway wall for all of the students see .
depends on what the students feel is necessary for improvement .”
Last year , they did several campaigns such as noticing trusted adults , making a big tree support system , decorating doors , and forming a compliment crew . They also held multiple conventions where SOS students played games , did team building activities , and learned how to show their support by reaching out to their peers .
“ The kids actually planned most of the projects for the year ,” McHam said . “ And of course they loved the games . They wouldn ’ t stop asking when SOS was coming back .”
The Trusted Adult Campaign , which they plan on continuing this year , is where students choose and write their trusted adult on campus that they are comfortable talking to or look up to . Last year , they also recognized the top five trusted adults that students nominated .
“ The whole program is about knowing that you have someone you can go to ,” McHam said . “ It was good to recognize Trusted Adults because students were able to notice people on campus that they can go to and bring issues that are happening ,”
They also did a project to display individual strengths , where students made a big tree support system that students could post and write responses on . The leaves included examples of coping skills , the roots showed support systems students could find , and the wind around it showed all of the stress factors “ shaking ” the leaves .
“ We want to teach students to use the things that make them feel better instead of focusing on the negative ,” McHam said . “ The tree was a great idea that students came up with .”
Another idea they had was to form a compliment crew , where SOS student leaders would compliment students and try to brighten someone ’ s day . They also made and received a compliment crew t-shirt to show they were part of the program .
“ You could tell it was a little uncomfortable for some students because it is a scary thing to go up to someone and compliment them ,” McHam said . “ However , we got an amazing response from it and it was a really fun way to spread positivity .”
Teachers and staff are also asked to help encourage students who are struggling . Even the small things can help change students that are going through a hard time or may be having a bad day . McHam included ideas that this could include a simple coping skill such as a safe place to sit and talk or a sweet treat from Sonic .
“ SOS is really a program that helps our campus bond and unite in addressing such a hard topic ,” McHam said . “ But really , the best thing about it is that the students are the ones that take the initiative to work together to lend that helping hand .”
The SOS students gather together over a quick meal during a meeting last year .
Jorge Gutierrez , Wyatt Daniels , and Aiden Whitton work together to build their Support System Tree .
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