New! Friday Night Events for Middle School Students!
Friday Fun Fest!
Select Fridays from 6:30-8:45 PM
Open to 6th-8th Grade Students
Each night will have wacky gym games and prizes (including iTunes gift cards and gift certificates to Village Picture Shows and Spiral Scoops)! Before playing gym games, an educational workshop will be offered. Friday Fun Fest nights are open to all area 6th, 7th and 8th grade middle students. Friday Fun Fest nights that occur after the school year ends will also be open to future 6th grade students and recently graduated 8th grade students.
May 25th @ Manchester Elementary Middle School
Wacky gym games: Defend The King & Bucketball. Presentation on Bullying & Healthy Relationships Presentation by Project Against Violent Encounters
More info to come on June Friday Fun Fest nights! Also, teen volunteers are needed! Get community service hours while having fun! Contact Kerri for more information at kerri@thecollaborative.us or 824-4200
DNT TXT N DRV apps
Keep the conversation and message from the Remember Alex Brown Foundation alive. To help keep you and others safe while driving there are some apps that help manage text messages while driving.
1) Drive Safely: This FREE app is a mobile application that reads text (SMS) messages and emails aloud in real time and automatically responds without drivers touching the mobile phone.
2) Text Toggle: This app is designed to intercept text messages while driving, and immediately reply to the sender with a personalized message.
3) Phone Guard: per hour as detected by global positioning satellite (GPS) tracking, This app locks the phone’s keyboard once the vehicle speed reaches 10 miles per hour preventing the user from emailing, surfing the web or texting while driving and automatically sends a customized pre-set response that is delivered to the texter or caller that reads, for example “I am driving and will contact you when I reach my destination.”
Girls on the Run and Girls on Track Return to Flood Brook Union School
The Girls on the Run is a positive youth development program that inspires third though eighth grade girls to stay true to themselves and live free from societal stereotypes. For 10 weeks, girls will participate in lessons that empower girls to celebrate their bodies, honor their voice, and embrace their gifts while prepare for a 5k run. Girls on the Run, 3rd-5th grades, and Girls on Track, 6th-8th grades, starts March 5th and ends May 19th at a 5k race in Brattleboro. Girls meet after school twice a week for an hour and fifteen minutes where they will have fun, be informed and empowered, and build strength and confidence. Registration forms can be found at The Collaborative and the FBUS front office. Completed registration forms are due by March 1st. The cost of the program registration is $70. Through grant writing and fundraising The Collaborative can cover some of this expense.
We are asking each participant to pay a minimum of $25 and if you can contribute more or the full amount. Any extra money will go towards ensuring the continuity of this program in our community. The program is limited to 15 girls per program so acceptance is first come first serve. For more details contact Cara at 824-4200
Broomball for High Schoolers
Free Teen Broomball
Teen Broomball v. Law Enforcement Professionals
November 5th at Riley Rink
8:30pm – 10pm
Come and take on the law!
Vermont Kids Against Tobacco
aka VKATS, has two main goals. First and foremost, VKATS hopes to reduce smoking and tobacco use rates. Secondly, VKATS creates and supports youth leaders. VKATS educates middle school and younger age students about the harms of tobacco use. By participating in different activities and games you are given the chance to have your voice heard about the positive choice you have made to stay tobacco free. As members of VKATS you can attend State conferences and gain leadership skills.
As a VKAT memebr you have the ability to tell people how much cooler it is not to use tobacco, you can show people fun games and activities people can do instead of using tobacco. Also, through VKATS you will learn and show others how much advertising and marketing influences people to use tobacco and how you can voice your concern that you are exposed to this.
The Collaborative advises the Flood Brook Union School VKATS.
If you would like to start a VKATS chapter or become a member, please call The Collaborative at 824-4200.
For more information, you may log onto the VKATS website: Vermont Kids Against Tobacco
Our Voices Xposed
aka OVX, this is a teen tobacco activism group. Teens involved with OVX focus on raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco use; exposing the tobacco industries’ exploitative advertising; engaging in activism activities in their school and communities; planning free, teen-only, substance-free events. The Collaborative’s OVX group is in its third year and is picking up steam.
Join OVX for fun, free, teen-only, substance-free events.
To join The Collaborative’s OVX team, call The Collaborative at 
802-824-4200
and ask to speak with the current OVX advisor.
Check out OVX’s fun filled and informative website: OurVoicesXposed
Join The Collaborative’s OVX/SADD Facebook
Student’s Against Destructive Decisions
Burr and Burton Academy has a Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter. The Collaborative co-advises this teen-initiated, teen-driven group. This SADD chapter started in the winter of 2007 and gets better every year! As a SADD chapter, focus is on peer education around alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; safe driving; healthy relationships; and providing free, fun, teen-only, substance-free events throughout the year. This group often partners with The Collaborative’s OVX team to do substance-free event planning and SADD members will be present at every Summer Sport Night at the Rec.
Join the BBA SADD Facebook group or call The Collaborative at 824-4200 and ask to speak with the current SADD advisor or log on to: www.sadd.org or join our Facebook group.