Other Programs and Support Students Offering Support (SOS)

SOS is a service organization on campus dedicated to peers helping peers in a variety of ways. SOS helps students practice:

• proficiency in public and interpersonal communication skills, including speaking and listening

• acting honestly, ethically, and responsibly toward themselves and others

• understanding many cultures and functioning effectively in a diverse society

• working effectively and collaboratively with other members of a team or group

Freshman Transition

Freshman Transition focuses on building a welcoming, safe and caring community. Pairs of trained 10th – 12th-grade students meet once or twice a month with a small group of freshmen. Peer Leaders guide the new students through activities designed to help the freshmen develop the communication and listening skills needed to build cultural competencies and to succeed in school and within their families and communities.

Orientation Day is the kick-off of the Freshman Transition Program and the new school year. Freshmen students attend a “Welcome Assembly” and then tour the campus with a Peer Leader.

Challenge Day is one component of the Freshman Transition Program and teaches freshmen life-long skills. Students learn and practice personal responsibility, collaboration and communication through interactive games and activities guided by Peer Leaders. Peer Leaders meet with their freshman group breaking down age and cultural barriers and building a strong school community that supports their academic success.

Conflict Mediation

This program provides a safe and confidential environment for settling problems between students and/or teachers in a nonviolent manner. Two trained peer mediators sit with the disputants and help them solve the conflict.

KIDS LEARNING EMPATHY AND RESPECT - KLEAR

The KLEAR program promotes empathy and respect among students, parents, and staff in the Woodside High School community. Its focus is on eradicating language and behavior that promotes hate. The goal is to teach students why this language and behavior are unacceptable. The school community works together to create a common language of respect and empathy for all people here and at home. Initial interventions usually involve peer conflict mediation, warnings, and mediation to help develop positive and appropriate communications. Repeat offenders of the respect for all policy will meet weekly with a peer mentor who will work with the student to develop positive and appropriate interactions.

Safe School Ambassador Program

Safe School Ambassadors® is a national program that we have adopted. The program was created because schools have recognized that students are the most critical group that influences the atmosphere of a school campus. We believe that a small group of positive, outgoing students working together can significantly improve our campus’s emotional climate. Students and ambassadors are trained to notice and take action if they see trouble starting between people; they notice if people are being left out or if somebody is emotionally upset. They quietly connect people in need with channels of help. They are not responsible for solving the problems of others but simply offer support, care, and information.