School Resources

The Mamaroneck School District is integrally involved in many areas that are aligned with LM RADAR's Mission. Through many curricula based programs and a number of specially designed and concentrated areas of focus, including DARE, the Hommocks Advocacy Groups, Staying Connected With your Teens and Second Steps program along with a dedicated staff, the School District endeavors to help support healthy choices by students and to prevent the use of drugs and alcohol.

LM RADAR, appreciates the support of the Mamaroneck Board of Education. Dr. Paul Fried, Superintendent of the School District has recognized LM RADAR's important contributions -- "LM RADAR is a unique combination of school and community resources dedicated to ensuring that our youth make good decisions and avoid the harmful effects of using drugs and drinking alcohol. We are supportive of LM RADAR's efforts to empower and assist parents and also to provide support for our students to whom we are all dedicated to helping achieve their potential. Working together we can succeed in this important mission."

School District Staff on the LM RADAR Board of Directors are Helene Fremder, Social Worker at MHS and Evan Stern, Hommocks Guidance Counselor. On the LM RADAR Community Advisory Board, we are grateful to have the expertise and guidance of Dr. Anthony Minotti, Asst. Supt. for Student Support Services, Debbie Manetta, Director of Public Information, Steve Frasene, Asst. Principal of MHS, Dr. Seth Weitzman, Principal, Hommocks Middle School and Adonis Calderon, Social Worker for Hommocks Middle School.

School Resources for Parents and Adolescents/Students

Who can you turn to in the district for help?
Within the school district, if you have a concern about your child that might involve the use of alcohol or drugs by him/her or other students you can contact:

• Helene Fremder, Social Worker and Drug and Alcohol Counselor for Mamaroneck High School, 220-3189, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Ms. Fremder counsels students both individually and in group sessions. Ms. Fremder is available for parent consultation. Most students are referred to her through parents, teachers or guidance counselors. Ms. Fremder also organizes educational programs for parents and families through LM RADAR and serves as the advisor to S.A.D.D. (Students Against Drunk Driving).
• Adonis Calderon, Social Worker for Hommocks Middle School, 220-3325. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Mr. Calderon, who is bilingual, runs groups with parents about any particular developmental issue, i.e., sexuality, aggression, individuation, relationships, drug/alcohol abuse prevention, boundaries and limit setting. Mr. Calderon also addresses these issues individually via parent, child and/or family meetings.
• Evan Stern, Counselor at Hommocks Middle School, 220-3323. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Mr. Stern serves on the RADAR Board and helps develop and carry out its areas of focus.

District Drug & Alcohol Policy
The possession, use or distribution of alcoholic beverages or controlled and / or illegal substances on school property or at school functions is a violation of state law. The consequence of a violation is a minimum mandatory suspension of five days, and legal action and/or police report. A Superintendent's hearing will be held in the case of a sale. Regarding follow-up measures, recommended actions may include, but not to be limited to:

• Sessions with the school social worker
• Attendance of an alcohol and drug education series provided by the Larchmont/ Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center or equivalent

Programs in the Mamaroneck Schools
The Mamaroneck Schools provide a number of proactive curricula and support programs to help students make good, healthy choices and avoid the harmful effects of using alcohol and drugs. These programs include:

• Elementary School:
  • D.A.R.E. - (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) encourages children to act responsibly and to lead happy, healthy lives through positive decision making and by equipping them with the skills and knowledge to resist drugs and violence.
• Middle School Programs:
  In collaboration with the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center, the following programs are offered to Mamaroneck School District Middle School Students:
  • Life Skills - In a program adapted to help children develop the life skills to prevent substance abuse and other high risk behaviors, all 6th and 7th graders at Hommocks participate in a cycle of weekly classes (during scheduled health or music class time) led by a counselor from the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center. The classes are lively and interactive and give students the chance to express themselves while exploring important topics. The topics discussed are coordinated with the health class curriculum to so that the classes become a collaborative addition to the health curriculum.
    
    6th graders are coping with transitions, including the change from elementary school to middle school and are on the cusp of becoming teenagers. In these classes, students learn about stress management and ways to think positively in dealing with common situations that all children have to face such as bullying and when it is important to be assertive.
    
    7th graders, a year wiser in middle school culture, are introduced to the topics most relevant to their experiences. The emotionally charged subjects of harassment and bullying are discussed, allowing students an opportunity to share their experiences and discuss, in a controlled forum, what is appropriate and acceptable behavior and how to be more respectful and accepting of one another. The importance of "emotion management" and the role of the brain in controlling their emotions is also explored.
  • Advocacy Groups: Many 8th graders at Hommocks participate in a weekly discussion group. These groups, led by counselors from the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center, are modeled after programs offered in other schools, where students have the experience of being in a small group with their peers. The group's purpose is to develop skills for advocacy and self-empowerment, enhancing self-expression and communication skills, while promoting self-esteem and leadership skills. The advocacy groups are a place where 8th graders can talk about what is going on in their lives, and their worries, hopes and opinions. It is a place where 13 and 14 year olds can discuss weekly issues that are relevant to them in a safe, consistent and confidential manner.
    
    Most 8th graders have participated in Life Skills and health classes in 6th and 7th grade and have previously been introduced to the topics of stress, drugs and alcohol, peer influence, harassment, decision making and conflict resolution. The Advocacy Groups are a more personalized way for these older students to share and explore their experiences with these topics. As 8th graders are preparing to leave the security of their middle school world and move onto the challenges of high school the students use the Advocacy Groups as a forum to talk about the transition they are about to make and find support and comfort in their expressions.
• High School Programs:
  • 9th Grade - AlcoholEdu® for High School
    Developed by prevention experts at Outside the Classroom in conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, this interactive online computer course delivers a science-based, prevention experience about alcohol and focuses on healthy decision-making strategies for youth. Health Education Curriculum Coordinator, Vin Minotti and School Social Worker, Helene Fremder has teamed up with the Science Department in order to implement this exciting and relevant program. Once your child completes this online program, students will participate in a lesson designed by Vin Minotti, highlighting important prevention messages. MHS counselors, psychologists and social workers co-facilitated this lesson plan to all freshmen. This program is funded through a R.A.D.A.R. grant.
  • 10th Grade - Health Education addresses critical health issues facing teens today.  The course provides an in depth look pertaining to the emotional, physical and social aspects of drug and alcohol use and abuse.  Students will also have a unique educational experience with renowned Drug and Alcohol Expert Mike Nerney.

Parent Workshops & Programs
The popular "Staying Connected With Your Teen" parent workshop is offered several times a year to parents who want to improve their communication skills with their adolescent children and develop more confidence and skill in their parenting. The program teaches ways parents can set limits and address issues about drugs and alcohol and develop more effective ways to respond to their teens. Held in two hour weekly sessions, either in the morning or evening, the workshops meet for five weeks. Please contact Robbie Seidman, Assistant Director at the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center at 698-7549 or email Robbie Seidman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more about the workshops or to register for the next series.

HAZE Parents Program
All parents are invited to watch the captivating film HAZE. Pledge Gordie Bailey died from alcohol poisoning after passing out on a couch following a hazing initiation. Vin Minotti, in collaboration with Helene Fremder and Nick Kourabas will provide follow-up parenting suggestions and tips to help parents safely navigate their child's transition to college.

PTA Parent Network Meetings
These meetings are a great way to connect with other parents of your child's classmates to share common problems and solutions.

• 9th and 12th grade -facilitated by Mark Levy, Executive Director of the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center in the fall and spring.
• 10th & 11th grade -facilitated by the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center in the Fall and Spring

Contact your PTA representative or check the school calendar for the dates of these grade level meetings where parents have an opportunity to meet other parents and share concerns and ideas.

For Teachers, Counselors & Other District Staff
Resources that provide guidance and suggestions for faculty.

• Teacher Resources - Alcohol and Drug Awareness.
  
  Children need to be educated about tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs in order to make safe decisions. Find lessons and printables to teach your students about smoking, substance abuse prevention, and health and wellness. Utilize these cross-curricular teaching resources on alcohol and drug awareness to make sure your students get the facts.  Read more on TeacherVision
• Lesson Plan in Brief - What To Know, What To Do, What To Say