Date: Fri 02-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Newtown-Youth-Services-

Full Text:

Hello To High School - Newtown Youth Services Reps Greet Eighth Graders

Youth Advisory Board members Will supply IDs when negs are printed ... greet

eighth graders at Newtown High for a video and tour of the school.

Brandy Arnold is the liaison between the Newtown Youth Services board of

directors and the Youth Advisory Board.

-Bee Photos, Evans

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

What will high school be like? Most eighth graders can't wait to find out and

some have already gotten an advance tour.

From the outside, Newtown High School looks pretty big and imposing - a lot

bigger than the Queen Street building the middle schoolers have grown familiar

with over the past three years.

As a part of their "Passages" program, therefore, the Youth Advisory Board

(YAB) of the Newtown Youth Services decided to give eighth graders a preview

of high school life.

"We'll show them a video, including homework, social life, sports and

activities," said YAB member Beth Mahoney on Wednesday, April 23, as she and

four other YAB students waited for the eighth graders to arrive.

Besides the video, Beth held onto a bag of Oreo cookies - just to help break

the ice.

That day's program, titled "Exploring the Myths of High School," was only one

of several youth-oriented afternoon activities and workshops that are

sponsored throughout the year by the Newtown Youth Services, known as

"Passages '97."

Other programs included, "Who Are You? The Camera's Eye" on March 18, "How To

Talk So Your Parents Will Listen" on March 25, and "The Game of Choices" about

AIDS awareness on April 8.

"We urge any teenager to sign up. We have such a good number of offerings,"

said Youth Services office manager Anita Arnold.

Ms Arnold listed the Super Sitters group for 11- to 13-year-olds, a Job Bank

for youth aged 13-17, Holiday Babysitting, A Penny Drive to raise scholarship

money for a graduating senior and support groups for children.

Family-oriented activities include a family bicycle day in the spring and a

carnival in the fall, as well as the New York Giants benefit basketball game

in March.

Newtown Youth Services staff adviser Brandy Arnold, who is liaison to the

Youth Advisory Board, accompanied the Newtown Middle School eighth graders to

the high school during Wednesday's tour.

Ms Arnold said the youth service student volunteers had been invaluable during

the year, helping the adults run the Giants benefit and generally providing

manpower for various projects when asked.

"We work with the community wherever we're needed," Ms Arnold said.

The Newtown Youth Services, located at 41-A Main Street in the Congregational

Church House, offers youth (free) and family (sliding scale) counseling,

crisis intervention, support groups, parent workshops and information

referrals.

The Youth Services director is Deborah Richardson, telephone 270-4335.