There was fun, exercise, kindness, motivation and mental health support during a day full of school events on Thursday, June 6, at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School – as well as some serious lessons about the dangers of drug and alcohol use.
A mock car crash caused by driving while intoxicated was carried out at Harmon Field for students in grades 9-12, followed by a mock trial in the auditorium. At the end of the presentation, Herkimer Police Chief Michael Jory encouraged students to not put anyone in the position to have to deal with a similar scenario happening for real.
“Make the right decisions, and do not drink and drive,” Jory said. “Can we do that? Yes? Please? I’m begging you, please.”
All students started the day with an assembly by motivational speaker Jeff Yalden and then split up into separate Middle School Kindness Day activities and High School activities centered around a mock DWI crash and trial.
‘They’re here for you’
High School students in grades 9-12 participated in various activities while wearing goggles to replicate impaired vision including driving a roadster, had the opportunity to ride on an accident simulator from state police, learned about Stop the Bleed training from Herkimer police, heard from Herkimer police about their equipment and witnessed the mock DWI crash and trial.
Herkimer students Victoria Stapf, Kyle Carney, Michael Goodson and Danielle Gilbert performed in the mock DWI crash and trial, along with Jory, Herkimer Superintendent Kathleen Carney, Herkimer County District Attorney Jeffrey Carpenter, town of German Flatts Justice Jeffrey Stone and other Herkimer police, Herkimer firefighters and Mohawk Valley Ambulance Corps responders.
Following the presentation, Herkimer High School Principal Zachary Abbe thanked the first responders and told students that the participants wanted to do this because they care about helping students make the right decisions, so they can grow up to live their lives as adults.
“They’re here for you,” Abbe said.
Abbe acknowledged that it can be hard for high school students to completely take a mock trial scenario seriously and that it can be funny to see your classmate walk on stage in an orange jumpsuit – as Goodson did as the pretend defendant.
“The reason for that is it’s easier to laugh and make a joke about it than it is to think about it as a possible actual reality,” Abbe said, before adding that he hopes students take the event’s message seriously and make smart decisions.
‘Mental health awareness’
Middle School students in grades 6-8 participated in various activities throughout the day focused on mental health awareness including exercising at multiple stations, visiting tables from community partners, singing karaoke, playing at Harmon Field, participating in a school walk, competing in basketball near the end of the day and watching school administrators and staff take a cold plunge into the pool. In addition to attending Yalden’s assembly, students later worked with him in small groups to talk about the importance of how to treat others and being respectful and responsible members of their community.
“Kindness Day for the Middle School was a huge success,” Herkimer Middle School Principal Maria Lindsay said. “Mental health awareness is extremely important, especially for adolescents. Our day was organized to be able to not only provide them with resources from our local community agencies, but to help them learn about healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety through yoga, Pound exercising, strength and fitness training, as well as breathing and relaxation techniques.”
Lindsay thanked the many community partners that helped support Kindness Day and the school staff that helped organize it.
“School social worker Kayla Klink and our other school counselors and social workers put together a day that not only brought awareness to our students, but provided them with support and strategies that they can utilize every day,” Lindsay said.
‘Do what matters’
During Yalden’s assembly, the youth motivational speaker shared personal stories and advice with students related to the topic of mental health – such as to be kind and to believe in yourself.
“Find meaning in your life and do what matters,” he said.
Yalden encouraged students to get sleep, practice proper nutrition and put down their devices and be a little bit more involved.
“Just be present,” he said.
Yalden said three things that every young person should learn are time management, organization and critical thinking skills.
“I think these things are very, very important,” he said.
Yalden also highlighted other aspects of life that he thinks are crucial – including hope, personal responsibility, self-advocacy, having a support system and education.
“Education is every day,” he said. “Learn as much as you can.”
Herkimer students Michael Goodson, Danielle Gilbert, Kyle Carney and Victoria Stapf perform in a mock DWI crash on Thursday, June 6, at Harmon Field by the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School. View more photos on Herkimer Central School District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimercsd.
Firefighters cover up Herkimer senior Victoria Stapf, who pretended to die in a mock DWI crash on Thursday, June 6, at Harmon Field by the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School. View more photos on Herkimer Central School District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimercsd.
Herkimer Police Chief Michael Jory speaks during a mock DWI crash and trail on Thursday, June 6, at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School. View more photos on Herkimer Central School District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimercsd.
Herkimer student Michael Goodson, Herkimer County District Attorney Jeffrey Carpenter and town of German Flatts Justice Jeffrey Stone perform in a mock DWI trial on Thursday, June 6, at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School. View more photos on Herkimer Central School District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimercsd.
Herkimer student Michael Goodson and Herkimer Central School District Superintendent Kathleen Carney perform in a mock DWI trial on Thursday, June 6, at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School. View more photos on Herkimer Central School District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimercsd.
Herkimer students Michael Goodson, Danielle Gilbert and Kyle Carney perform in a mock DWI trial on Thursday, June 6, at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School. View more photos on Herkimer Central School District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimercsd.
Youth motivational speaker Jeff Yalden speaks to Herkimer students in grades 6-12 on Thursday, June 6, during Kindness Day at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School. View more photos on Herkimer Central School District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimercsd.
Youth motivational speaker Jeff Yalden speaks to Herkimer students in grades 6-12 on Thursday, June 6, during Kindness Day at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School. View more photos on Herkimer Central School District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimercsd.
Herkimer Middle School students participate in a school mental health walk on Thursday, June 6, during Kindness Day at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School. View more photos on Herkimer Central School District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimercsd.
Herkimer Middle School students participate in a school mental health walk on Thursday, June 6, during Kindness Day at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School. View more photos on Herkimer Central School District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/herkimercsd.