By Stephen Smoot
Two fire apparatus, a West Hardy ambulance, and a West Virginia State Trooper’s cruiser all pulled up to Moorefield Intermediate School later afternoon Thursday last week.
They came not as a response to an emergency, but to help to school students on not only their work, but also how to act and react in an emergency situation. Responders came to visit and engage students in the new grant funded afterschool program launched by Hardy County Schools this fall.
The program focuses on alternative means of instruction and educational experiences to help build student skills. First, students get a nutritious snack and a free activity time. Some eat quickly and play Uno or socialize until the rest finish their snack.
“They eat, they talk with others as they finish eating,” said Jennifer Strawderman, Hardy County Assistant Superintendent. Another part of the afternoon includes a “brain break” where children can go outside for 20 minutes and not have to sit in a room. Barr stated that unlike the intermediate school, middle school students do not get a recess and that all are full of energy by the school day’s end.
Strawderman shared that Moorefield Intermediate School, which hosts the program for its own and also Moorefield Middle School students, served as “the first site to do a community involvement activity.” Between the two schools, the program serves students between third and eighth grades, but students get broken up by age group.
Just over two months into the program, “it’s going great,” said Amy Barr who administrates the program. She also shared that because “it’s so new” that “it’s a long process” to work out all the bugs and kinks, but “we’re learning as we go.”
Strawderman stated that as those involved get more settled in that the processes and procedures established will make operation more efficient.
One of the unexpected benefits of the program lay in the interaction between students in different age groups when they combine. “The intermediate school students like the fact that the middle school students are there,” shared Barr. She explained that the younger students look up to the older ones and that “we’re hoping we can get some mentoring in place.”
A middle school student in the program came to the same conclusion. She said she was not in the program as much for her own learning, but shared “I do like to teach other kids about things they don’t know.” What she may not know, but that teachers understand is that teaching and mentoring is also learning, not just about a subject but also leadership, communications, and more.
Overall, the main priority lies in learning. Barr stated that “we’re trying to bridge any skills gaps that the student may have had in the last year.” Middle school students, she said, “mostly need help with their homework.” Many parents did not grow up with the new ways mathematics is taught and may struggle to help their children even if they themselves excelled in the subject.
Barr said that they will also hold special sessions for parents to help them support their children’s education in being able to help with homework or in other areas.
On this particular day, each emergency responder unit set up inside or out and welcomed small groups of students. One group filtered into the library to speak with Hardy County 911 telecommunicators.Katina Nazelrod and Fred Eye.
A particularly poignant moment occurred when a young student asked about the “worst” call they ever heard. Nazelrod and Eye took a breath, then explained why they did not want to answer the question. It led into a discussion of the trauma felt by 911 telecommunicators who have to share the worst day of someone’s life and sometimes even their death.
Both shared that doing the job in a rural area sometimes means that a telecommunicator will take a call from a loved one and how that adds even more difficulty. Eye stated that “when you hit that button, you mentally prepare yourself to deal with the repercussions afterward” if the call is particularly difficult. Nazelrod shared that “he and I can vent to each other” after such experiences.
Billie Jo Biddle represented West Hardy Ambulance Service and provided basic CPR instruction. “I want you to remember something,” she said as she opened, “the first thing is to check their pulse and shout ‘Hey! Hey! You okay?’”
She explained that the way in which CPR was taught to previous generations has changed. “The way CPR works nowadays” she said “because of germs just do CPR. That’s enough to get the blood to the brain.” Biddle demonstrated how today, CPR is two minutes of chest compressions with no breathing into the mouth.
Students also visited the fire apparatus, an ambulance, and the State Trooper to learn more about their roles and responsibilities.
When the program started it had a significant number of enrollees, but that has dropped to 26 from the intermediate school and 16 from the middle. Many had to drop off because the expected transportation resources could not materialize in time. Barr stated that the number enrolled is “still pretty good. Once we get bus transportation it will be better. It’s going very well for it to be new.”
A number of counties have struggled recently with the declining quality and reliability of new school buses, regardless of manufacturer.
Unlike the school day, attendance is not compulsory and some can only come a single day a week.
All expect the program to grow as word of mouth, particularly from students, builds interest. It also serves students at Moorefield and East Hardy elementary schools.
