Projects

Keep Calm Force (KCF) Fall Update
The Network of Schools for Social Decision Making will continue to support program development of a Keep Calm Force at two new sites; Bartle School in Highland Park, NJ and Central School in Somerville, NJ. Last year, outreach activities were done onsite, due to delays in the purchase and installation of equipment in our UMDNJ offices and re-configuring of teleconferencing set-ups in both Arbor and Martin Luther King School in Piscataway, NJ. A video conference session was held on June 3, 1999, between students from Martin Luther King School in Piscataway, NJ (the original site where "The Force" was developed) and students participating in pilot projects from both Bartle School in Highland Park, NJ and Central School in Somerville, NJ.

A primary goal for this year is to create video-clips and materials to aid in the dissemination of the KCF to new sites in the future. Maureen Papke and Erin Bruno of the SDM/PS staff have been working with Carl Preto, our media consultant from RWJ Medical School to film key aspects of the program, such as, orientation and training sessions; lunchtime supervision; and actual footage of the KCF in action on the playground. Products developed last year have been used to orient and train new staff at beginning sites, and will help additional schools to adopt this innovation in the future

KCF Success Stories:
These are stories that were told to Rebecca Walker, School Counselor at Martin Luther King School in Piscataway, NJ, by members of the Keep Calm Force during February and March 1999.

Piscataway, NJ - Martin Luther King School
As told to Mrs. Walker by Andrew and Jackie, on an outdoor play day:

"These two boys were fighting - pushing each other back and forth. I saw it and ran over there and another KCF member from another class also came over. Then, I took one boy and the other KCF person took a boy and we each talked to them. After we talked, I said 'Shake hands' and they became friends again."

As told to Mrs. Walker by Andrew and Jackie, on an outdoor play day:

"Brian was running around and knocking stuff down. The aide was saying, 'Brian, calm down,' but Brian kept on going. Then, I went over and got my KCF vest and I said, 'Brian, read this' and I said, 'Calm down,' and he started breathing. Then, he calmed down and went with his friends."

As told to Mrs. Walker by Greg and Jessica:

"I saw Donnie and Omar and I thought they were playing around, because they normally do, but then I saw one was crying and kids were gathering. I went in to try to break it up. I said, 'Guys, break it up, keep calm.' I tried to get in between them. Jessica went to get the aide."

Note: Names have been changed in the above stories.