Urbandale High School - Echo Yearbook (Urbanville, IA)

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New programs in-itiated by .administration To help make the transition from junior high to high school, all of the freshman class and 26 teachers were involved in a new advisory program. One of the originators at UHS, instructor Rich Dixon defined its purpose as a means to supplement the work of the four guidance counselors. Freshmen were required to meet with the advisers at least three times each semester. Students with questions or adjustment problems were encouraged to stop in more often. Advisers were responsible for communication with each student's parents. A large part of second semester dealt with scheduling for the next years. The old Language Arts area on second floor was made available for advisory groups. Each hour six regularly scheduled advisers met there to talk with advisees. Work for Credit and Community lnvolvement were two new programs started to give students a real look at jobs. Each program sent students out into the community to participate in a field of job interest. Work for Credit was available to 10-12 graders who worked at a regular job 15 hours a week. They received credit for this. The second part was an internship program where a student was not paid by his employer but earned credit. ln Community lnvolvement students worked in the community two-three days a week with the remainder of time devoted to research in connection with that job. Jobs were related to the four subjects areas: English, math, social studies, and science. Credit was given in the corresponding subject areas. Marsha Spanswick and Rae Gene Robbins coordinated the programs.

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'Peer helpers success,' says counselor Sherer With the advent of Peer Helpers, a student counseling group dealing with human relationships, encounters, and feelings was started at UHS. ln 1976 the four guidance counselors began thinking about such a program. They attended workshops and listened to students from other schools. This fall Mrs. Rae Gene Robbins was hired to get the program organized. Mrs. Robbins earned her Masters Degree in Human Relations at the University of LaVerne in California. In November faculty members were asked to recommend students and in large group American History sophomores were asked to name three peers they would go to with a personal problem. About 70 students indicated interest. Through elimination, 40 sophomores and juniors were selected, aided by counselors Mary Sherer and Dennis Brand. The class was aimed toward discovering our interpersonal feelings as well as finding wa.yIs to reach out to others around us, explained Mr. Brand. The large group was divided into two smaller groups and began meeting second semester. ln the first six weeks, communication skills were stressed. During the next six weeks several referral agencies discussed such teenage concerns as family and peer relationships, death, and sex roles. The final six weeks was spent applying new found skills.' Small groups were often invited to explain their program. On April 23, nine students spoke to 100 tudents of the South Central tudent Council. The UHS Peer elpers led discussions involved ith alcoholism. The Corner was the group's heme and the name of their eeting room in the corner of the ibrary. Parents were invited to an pen house March 83 the faculty ere invited to a similar sharing xperience April 10. The teachers ormed a support group among hemselves called the Bridge. X iv '... n ..'f . ,, . ..,. , 1 s . 1 - ' 1 Brian Willem relaxes in The Corner, the Q fly C meeting room of the Peer Helpers. My 2 Tom Beran Multi-categorical Disabilities 5, M, gd 3 Carol Handley - Multi-Disability Resource 4 1 . 4 Kathy Mason - Special Education I JJ' Qjjtb NUJVL 6, 5 RaeGene Robbins - Community ' yi 1 5 ad Involvement, Peer Helpers , ' G Pl' V 6 Alan Carver receives worm fuzzys. The Q A WVR Y-f N last week of school, Peer Helpers tell each ftl JJ my XYZ-f JI QW V other what they admire about others. , 'V Gy X, jc! 7 Peer Helpers, Phil Tosten, Shawn 'IU7 N .lf l f Milligan, and Tony Vierling chat before class 'ff' l begins. OK 8 Aiding the Peer Helper classes are QV A counselors Dennis Brand and Mary Sherer. V - t X 9 Tony Vierling and Bob Hansen work on JMX , communication skills. X Jjf 10 Marsha Spanswick - Community KU Involvement 11 Cathy Stole - Reading Title I 12 Betty Woodard - Learning Disabilities Reachin Out Special Faculty v 93