MOULTONBOROUGH — Superintendent Patrick Andrew is pleased to announce that Moultonborough Academy high school students presented at the 2022 Best Practices Conference on Social-Emotional Learning hosted by New Hampshire School Administrators Association (NHSAA). The presentation, titled Empowering Student Through the Getting to “Y” Program, held on Sept. 21 at Grappone Convention Center, discussed the school’s ‘Getting to Y’ program, which empowers students of Moultonborough Academy to take the necessary actions to make the positive changes they want to see within their school community. Students that participated in the presentation were Seniors Leah Haskins, Katriana Gleeson, Grace Burton and Junior Claire Neely.
The program is run by Director of Counseling Services and School Psychologist Heather Nelson and Library Media Specialist Carrie Fair. It is comprised of student leaders, and designed to give students the tools to voice their ideas and make real changes within the school district, while also empowering other students.
“This program showcases the importance of student voice and getting kids interested in wanting to take action while continuously motivating their peers in the process,” said Director Nelson.
These student leaders and 22 of their high school peers analyzed the Moultonborough Academy 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data. YRBS is a survey administered every other year to students across the country. The CDC conducts the survey, collates the data, and publishes the results. (All responses to the survey are anonymous and cannot be traced to a particular student.) The data is used by the CDC to monitor the health-related behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults and provides YRBS data to communities and schools to better address local needs.
During the presentation, students discussed data analysis from the YRBS surveys and how an Asset Web — a list of resources that Moultonborough Academy and the Town have for different issues — created an open form of communication not just between administration and students, but between students and peers. The outcome of this Data Analysis Retreat determined the suicidal ideation, dating violence, and access to drugs were their priorities and solutions would be aimed at reducing these risk behaviors. Student leaders and members of “Getting to Y” program collaborated with their peers to find root causes, solutions and next steps for these issues while discussing resources that students can utilize everyday.
Additionally, program leaders held a forum for community members to ask questions and provide feedback on the priorities determined by the Data Analysis Retreat and how next steps would be implemented within the school community. Some of the accomplishments of the program include a peer-led suicide prevention program, peer counseling between High School and Middle School students, accessing services to help teach about healthy relationships from the educational coordinator from Starting Point, and an age-appropriate self-defense class in collaboration with the Moultonborough Police Department.
During the presentation, students talked about what the program means to them and how evoking change within the school paves the way for other students and other schools. They also spoke on their accomplishments, and how meaningful it was to be able to see the change that they had worked toward throughout the year.
“I just found it really exciting to like, share my experience because, maybe other similar programs could be started in different schools around New Hampshire. And so more school communities can have the same experiences with the program that we have,” said Senior Leah Haskins.
About Getting to ‘Y’ Program
Getting to ‘Y’ is an opportunity for students to bring meaning to their school’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Through youth leadership, partnerships with adults, participatory action research, and peer and community engagement, students not only experience personal growth and build their capacity for future civic engagement, but also effect sustainable change in youth, behavior, community and school culture.
For more information on the ‘Getting to Y’ program click here.
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