Nationally-Known WAIT Speaker Returns to Wahoo for Parent Presentation
Parents Encouraged to Attend Healthy Abstinence Educational/Awareness Program
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Wahoo High School will once again sponsor Shelly Donahue to share an important message with our schools and community. Donahue, who has visited Wahoo a few times in recent years, is scheduled to speak at an evening parent/community meeting on Wednesday, September 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the WHS Performance-Learning Center.
For more information on these meetings, please contact contact WHS Guidance Counselor Terry Kopish or WPS Nurse Mary Specht.
Shelly is a nationally known speaker and trainer with the WAIT Training program. She has traveled throughout the U.S. helping schools and communities develop a healthy abstinence program through education and awareness. Shelly’s message includes:
* The effects of drugs and alcohol on teen decision making
* Teen character development and healthy relationships
* How to start over
* Assertiveness skills
* Why abstinence is the healthy choice
Shelly spoke to teens in the Wahoo and Ft. Calhoun Public Schools in April of 2008, and again to Wahoo parents in March of 2009. Parents, grandparents, youth workers, medical professionals, business leaders, educators, pastors and concerned citizens who missed her last time should take advantage of this additional opportunity to hear Shelly’s message!
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About WAIT Training (from www.waittraining.com):
Joneen Mackenzie RN, BSN was a stay-at-home mother of four in Evergreen, CO when her 12-year-old son brought home a permission slip for science class. Curious as to why permission was needed, she spoke with the teacher and sat in on the class to review the curricula. Joneen was concerned that the “human reproduction” unit being taught began with an anatomy lesson but then proceeded immediately to teaching about condoms and contraceptives.
Students received no information outside of the physical aspects and implications of sexual activity. As a registered nurse for more than a decade prior to starting a family, she knew the broad health issues at stake and strongly felt that the kids deserved far more than they were getting. This was the spark that ignited her passion to develop a better, more complete approach for young people.
Within weeks she had assembled a group of students in her home to learn more about the questions they had about sex. To her surprise, the students were far more curious about relationships than sex. The questions on their minds were things like, “Can marriage last?” and “How do I know when I’m in love?” They wanted and needed help with how to develop and sustain healthy relationships—not the specifics of proper condom usage.
The quest had begun. A fresh approach to curriculum was needed—one that answered the real questions of today’s teens. One that taught towards the positive, rather than away from the negative. One that gave kids high goals and equipped them to reach them. And one that was remarkably relevant and helpful to every student in class—both those who have and have not been sexually active.
Within months, she had developed a 10-page lesson and secured permission to teach relationship education in the science class. The classes she taught were packed with teens and parents. Within a year, she was teaching her program in communities throughout Colorado.
A Curriculum focuses on more than abstinence education
With the input from professionals across the United States, the WAIT Training curriculum has grown from a modest 10-page outline into a 330-page collection of public school lessons and resources that give teachers the tools they need to make a lasting, positive impact on students.
WAIT Training is fun, interactive and insightful, and it has been reviewed and approved by thousands of teachers, trainers and students. Based on the positive reactions to the WAIT Training curriculum, additional products have been developed to address the health-related needs of a diverse group of young people. To view the curriculum visit www.why-abstinence.org.
Nationally-Known Speaker to Present WAIT's Healthy Abstinence Program to WHS Students
| Debra Hohldebra@wahoostatebank.com | Apr 09, 2008 | THANKYOU!!!! I would like to take this opportunity to thank Wahoo Public Schools ...Especially Nurse Mary, Ms. Kopish, Mr. Arent, Mr. Libel and Mr. Rastovski for sponsoring the WAIT Training Program. I was in attendance at the parent meeting on Monday night and was extremely impressed with the WAIT program. How refreshing it is to "set the bar" high for our children and approach the subject of sex in a positive, and "real" way. Ms. Donahue is an excellent presenter and connects with her audience with sincerity. She spoke for two full hours to a room full of parents and kept the attention of everyone. I can only hope the response from the kids will be as positive. GREAT JOB Wahoo Public Schools. Thanks again. |