Newark High School students, teachers team up to provide 'Sources of Strength'

NEWARK — Newark High School sophomore Andy Hupp did not know what to expect, when she was nominated by one of her teachers to be part of the Sources of Strength project.

An international program that began in Canada and on the West Coast that has spread around the country, it seeks to prevent youth suicide, bullying and substance abuse. It finds ways to change bad behaviors and the culture, and promote connections between students and caring adults.

"It helps talking about different people's strengths and weaknesses," said Hupp, who plays tennis and is on the bowling team at Newark. "You find what you can work on with them. The next couple of years, as this grows, we want to help people become stronger with the right help. Get a lot of people really involved in it, and get better outcomes."

Freshman Layla Smith, who plays cello in the orchestra, was also chosen as a peer leader, and was glad she was.

"Everyone is talking about it," Smith said. "It forced me to talk to people I didn't know, and helped me to get involved. We want to stop bullying, and make people feel positive, not beat down. I love it, and look forward to doing it next year."

Newark school counselor Scott Koebel had wanted to start the program in the past, and grant money was finally received to get it going last October, when 40 student leaders and 10 adult advisors trained for it. They've been meeting weekly, talking about social/emotional issues and planning campaigns to reach the staff and student body. It fully manifested itself in a Sources of Strength week that ended last Friday and seemed to have a positive impact on the high school.

Last Monday featured a pep rally and a student-staff basketball game. "It was tremendous. It went really well," Koebel said. "It's been a really tough year, with COVID and all the disruptions. State testing is over, and this was a good way to build some community back up, with not being able to do do anything like that for the last couple of years."

The rest of the week included special events in the Commons area during lunches. Tuesday was Therapy Dogs. "The dogs were a big hit, and they have anxiety and stress-reducing effects," Koebel said. "Certain students really responded during lunch with the dogs."

On Wednesday, students were asked to fill out sheets stating "why your friend is a positive friend," and they were entered into raffles to win gift cards to River Road Coffee House, for them and their friend. Thursday, a bake sale was held to raise money for the Unified Physical Education program, where students and those with special needs work together. Friday was the "End the R-Word" campaign, where students talked about how important it was to be inclusive. There was an "End the R-Word" banner, and rubber wristbands were handed out.

Another campaign has focused on the importance of Trusted Adults, spotlighting those nominated on social media, and reaching out to teachers and staff members to post "I Am A Trusted Adult" signs in their rooms. There was a #TrustedAdultSelfie social media contest and there will be an art installation in the NHS Dome provided by ART Club.

Additionally, Sources of Strength has partnered with Mat Dunham to produce weekly videos that feature their student peer leaders. The videos are shown to the entire student body during morning announcements on Wednesdays (“Wellness Wednesday” videos).

Teachers nominated students as peer leaders from different peer groups. "We wanted it to be a cross section of athletes, fine arts, ROTC, all the different groups that we have," Koebel said.

Junior Mitchell Mazzone, a swimmer who is vice president of Key Club and active on Student Council, said he "gratefully accepted" when asked to be a leader on Sources of Strength. The training focused on the Sources of Strength wheel, which includes mental health, family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spirituality and physical health.

"We've tried to instill mental health," Mazzone said. "Some students have not had a good family life, and we reach out and help those who are struggling, talk to them and try to answer their questions. We try to do projects around the school, and we've seen a lot of happy smiles. The big thing is to go out and speak to students, give them strength and help they might not have received."

Mazzone is excited about the future of Sources of Strength at Newark.

"This is just the first year, and we're just getting the lay of the land and getting off the ground," he said. "We want to get more students involved."

dweidig@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newark students, teachers team up to provide 'Sources of Strength'