JAN
JARVIS - JJARVIS@SIERRASTAR.COM
SUBMITTED
Lacy Abbott and Alex Michel get suited up for the intensive ropes course
at Peer Mediation Camp, held at Calvin Crest Conferences.
SUBMITTED
Flying high!
Twenty-one students
from Yosemite High School spent two days in late August at Peer Mediation
Training Camp. The camp, held at Calvin Crest, taught the students how
to use mediation to resolve conflicts between their fellow classmates.
During training, students are taught that conflicts can occur any time
due to a difference of opinions or a clash of ideas. They are also taught
that conflict can have a constructive aspect to it because it can be
a catalyst for positive change.
“I don’t know anyone without conflict of some kind,” explained Stephanie
Samuels, coordinator of the program. “This gives students skills they
will utilize for the remainder of their lives. I wish they had this
when I was young.”
Students who receive the mediation training are nominated by other students
then undergo an interview process with counselors and faculty. “Some
students are nominated simply because they’re popular,” said Stephanie.
However, the interview process is rigorous enough that it identifies
those students who are not genuinely interested in the mediator role.
The program is no longer open to freshmen because it was too difficult
for YHS staff to visit middle schools interviewing candidates. But that
appears to have had no adverse effect — students who choose peer mediation
to help them solve their problems do not seem to care what class the
mediators are in.
Team-building
exercises
Participants spend the time at camp doing various team-building exercises,
as well working on a ropes course and the climbing wall. The students,
who will participate in the mediation program during the 2003-2004 school
year, were trained by various staff members of YHS. Nancy Lusby, Kellie
Solomon and Stephanie Samuels were assisted by Tony Misner, Rebecca
Orozco-Brokaw and vice-principal Tom Fiormonti. In addition, photographer
Donn Lusby and two former students, April Martin and Jesse Knotts, were
there to lend a hand and participate in the fun.
“This is our fourth year having this training camp...and it was better
than ever. This is an exceptional group of young people, and having
the assistance of the extraordinary staff at Calvin Crest added so much
to our program. We all loved it and hope we can go back next year!”
exclaimed trainer Nancy Lusby.
Said student participant Melanie Johnson, “This is my fourth year of
Peer Mediation. I’ve been involved since freshman year. I’m so happy
with how far it has come and hope to see it continue to grow. The program
really brings students together and gives us skills that we will be
able to use throughout our lives.”
Peer mediation
in school
The peer mediation process can be initiated by students or faculty members.
It is not a mandatory process. If a student does not want to participate,
no adverse information about him/her is sent to anyone, but the alternatives
for non-participation, such as a visit to the principal’s office or
other disciplinary action, are explained at the time of refusal.
There are definite ground rules to the mediation itself. Before the
program can begin, each participant has to agree to no violence, no
interruptions and a genuine desire to work out the problem. Confidentiality
is maintained by all parties, except the mediators must explain that
they are legally bound to report any instances in which a participant
is a threat to him/herself or to others. Besides agreeing to the above
ground rules, participants promise to talk to the mediators during the
session and talk to each other.
As trainee Justin Barigian described it, “I think peer mediation is
a great program because it lets kids with conflict interact with peers
to solve their conflicts. It’s easier for a teenager to talk to another
teenager because they might have gone through the same type of stuff.”
Community
support
The two-day event was funded by the YHS Site Council along with a generous
donation from the Pines Market at Bass Lake. There were also food donations
from both Raley’s and Vons supermarkets. “We know the community is behind
us when they support us this way,” said Jake VanMeter when he saw a
catered lunch provided by the Pines Market.
Other participants also had enthusiastic reviews of the training.
“The overall experience was great...but without the accommodations at
Calvin Crest, their great staff and all the team-building activities
they organized, it wouldn’t have been as successful,” commented Niki
Samuels.
Sean Ratchford said, “The best part was the game of charades at the
campfire.” According to Anne Brooks-Evans, “I think peer mediation is
one of the best organizations a school could ever think about having.
It teaches kids who are having a conflict to talk through it instead
of physically fighting. I am so honored to be a part of this whole thing!”
“The best part was the ropes course — you really depend on your partner
to motivate you. Alex Cano is the best!” said Sam Gabbard of his partner,
who diplomatically replied, “No, YOU are, Sam.”
Perhaps Jessica Schiller summed it up when she said, “Camp was great.
It really brought all of us together. It was amazing to see everyone
communicating and getting along so well. I didn’t know some of the people
who went and it felt like we had grown up together. The way that everyone
looked out for each other and helped out was truly amazing.”
YHS’s peer mediators for this school year are: Lacy Abbott, Justin Barigian,
Jenna Barney, Anne Brooks-Evans, Amanda Canning, Alexander Cano, Sam
Gabbard, Carmen George, Melanie Johnson, Shawn Long, Owen Martin, Alex
Michel, Jessie Moore, Samantha Pike, Sean Ratchford, Annette Rivas,
Niki Samuels, Jessica Schiller, Kim Usher, Jake VanMeter and Daniel
Vawter.
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