Tina McCoy, Superintendent
43 Harriman Hill Road
Raymond, NH 03077
For Immediate Release
Monday, May 6, 2019
Media Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jessica@jgpr.net
Raymond’s Iber Holmes Gove Middle School Hosts 15th Annual Raymond Coalition for Youth Project Safeguard Conference
RAYMOND — Principal Bob Bickford is pleased to share that students, parents and guardians came together recently to learn about healthy and successful student habits, and the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
On Friday, April 19, the Raymond School District hosted the 15th Annual Raymond Coalition for Youth Project Safeguard Conference at Iber Holmes Gove Middle School. Students in seventh and eighth grade attended the event, as well as their parents and guardians.
The Raymond Coalition for Youth has organized the Project Safeguard conference for Iber Holmes Gove Middle School students, parents and guardians for the past 15 years, and received funding to support the event from Exeter Hospital and through a Drug Free Community grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The free conference offered workshops that were open to students and parents, and others that were for students only and parents only.
Workshop topics included: e-cigarettes, personal stories of addiction and recovery, smart dating, life coaching, sexual harassment and online bullying, navigating the currents of depression and anxiety, understanding adolescence, a guided meditation and a yoga session.
A keynote speech was also given at the event by Raymond Police Lt. Chad Shevlin, with a closing speech by UNH student and Teen Challenge End Addiction Administrator Zach Brewster and DEA Special Agent Jon DeLena. Brewster, who is in long-term recovery, shared his experience battling with addiction with students at the event.
“Students, parents and guardians have a lot of challenging, serious topics they’re tasked with navigating in today’s world,” Principal Bickford said. “This conference was a great opportunity for parents and students to hear from professionals about the dangers of addiction, and to learn new tools to support healthy, safe habits.”
The conference lasted the length of the school day, although parents and guardians were encouraged to attend as long as their schedules allowed.
The Raymond Coalition for Youth also provided a free lunch for those who attended the conference and t-shirts for all students.
“This event was made possible by our longstanding and growing partnership with the Raymond Coalition for Youth,” Superintendent McCoy said. “Our community is fortunate that the coalition holds this event annually to support student health and safety.”
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