WARWICK, RI – Toll Gate’s Vocal Athletes Advocating for Substance Use Alternatives (VAASA) program went to Winman on March 15th for their annual presentation to the eighth grade. Keeping up the yearly tradition, the students spent the morning playing games, sharing stories, and talking with the students to educate them on substance abuse prevention, and the dangers of substance use at a young age.
This was the tenth year in a row VAASA has presented at Winman with Student Assistance Counselor Ms. Morris. The annual presentation typically occurs in March, and gives a fun morning for the athletes and middle schoolers. .
I sat down with Toll Gate’s Student Assistance Counselor and VAASA coordinator Ms. Morris:
Me: How long have you been working as a Student Assistance Counselor (SAC)?
Morris: I’ve been a SAC since December of 2014. I worked at Gorton Jr. High and West Warwick High School in a split position for a year and a half, before coming to Toll Gate in 2016.
Me: How long have you run the VAASA program?
Morris: VAASA was already a thing at WWHS, and part of my responsibilities there were to advise the VAASA group, the SADD group, and the student leadership group. I loved VAASA, so I continued that when I came here to Toll Gate.
Me: How has VAASA changed over the past decade?
Morris: It’s gotten bigger. The students over the years have shared lots of similarities, despite all having different dreams and goals. We’ve changed a lot of the activities we’ve done in our presentations, and the program has become much more known in the school. I’ve also done it for long enough that in interviews (to join), kids will mention that getting to see the presentation at Winman makes them want to join at Toll Gate. We also used to present to the 6th and 8th grade at Winman, but now we present to the 8th grade and local elementary schools.
Me: Going back to Winman, what were some highlights from this year’s presentation?
Morris: The personal stories, the connections that Winman students made with the high school students, and getting to see how the VAASA members have grown over the year and past 2-3 years, for some, was amazing. The 8th grade was also just a great group this year, they were very well behaved.
The 10th presentation went amazingly well for Toll Gate’s VAASA program. The experience is amazing every year for both the athletes and the eighth graders, providing a fun morning for the athletes with their friends all while working for a good cause; to educate others on, and ultimately prevent substance abuse.
