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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, June 7-9, 2017 The Park Record A-8 PCHS students take a stand Committee raises awareness about drug abuse danger By BUBBA BROWN The Park Record BUBBA BROWN/PARK RECORD Tess Miner-Farra is set to become the head of the Winter Sports School. After helping lead the Park City Day School since its inception in 2010, she says her new role is a perfect fit. The film stuck with Sydney Oraskovich. After attending a screening of “Dying in Vein,” a documentary that uses personal stories to explore opiate and heroin addiction, the Park City High School senior knew it would leave a lasting impression on her peers, too. So she set about bringing the film to the school. “I thought, ‘Hey, this is something we’ve never been exposed to. We’ve never been exposed to drugs in this sort of setting,’” she said. “I feel like the drug education we’ve had previously is just listing a bunch of negative side effects of it, then move on. I wanted to bring the film into school and try to make a difference.” Eventually, she helped form the Drug Prevention Committee, a coalition of PCHS students dedicated to educating their peers about drug abuse and mental health issues. Last month, they were successful in organizing a screening of “Dying in Vein,” at the school, along with a student panel, and Oraskovich said the result was phenomenal. Nearly 900 students attended the showing, and many were in tears by the time the credits rolled on the screen. Bob O’Connor, principal of Park City High School, said he was “blown away” by the committee’s efforts to address an important issue like drug abuse. He contrasted the “Dying in Vein” screening with other attempts in recent months to raise awareness in schools about the dangers of drugs, such as a drug-prevention film from the FBI and panel discussions with law enforcement officers. “It was much more effective, and you could tell by watching the audience,” he said. Added Oraskovich: “It’s very rare that you meet someone who doesn’t know someone personally -- or know someone who knows someone -- that’s been affected by opiates. I feel as though it’s not talked about enough. Having the (film) here was meaningful to a lot of students and I hope it sparked a discussion.” But the committee’s efforts are poised to leave an impact that lasts far longer than a film screening. While many members of the committee are graduating seniors, its underclassmen are working with PCHS administrators to try to implement a program in which 30 minutes of the homeroom class period would be dedicated several times a week -or at least weekly -- to learning about topics like mental health, drug abuse and critical thinking in difficult situations. “We just want to bring them skills they need in life that aren’t necessarily taught in school because of the extreme focus on Please see Students, A-9 Administrator goes for gold Miner-Farra set to take over at Winter Sports School By BUBBA BROWN The Park Record When the Park City Day School was looking for a new head of school, it’s assistant head, Tess Miner-Farra, didn’t offer her name for consideration. It wasn’t the right opportunity. That was coming later. The Winter Sports School recently announced Miner-Farra as its new head of school, and she is set to move across town to take over July 1. She said she was interested in joining the school as soon as she heard Dave Kaufman was stepping down from the position because of her background as the academic dean at the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid, New York, another school that caters to high-achieving athletes. “The light went off for me and I said, ‘Now that’s a head of school position I’d be interested in pursuing,’” said Miner-Farra, who has worked at the Park City Day School since its inception in 2010. “It combines where I want to be, the kind of work I want to do in education and is the next step for me in terms of leadership and my career. It’s almost a perfect fit.” The Winter Sports School, which operates through the summer to provide students time off to train in their athletic endeavors during the winter, intrigues Miner-Farra because of the type of student it attracts. She said the teens who attend are already incredibly motivated in their sports, so teachers and administrators must determine how to get them to funnel that enthusiasm into education, as well. “The number that ever go pro in anything is so small that we need to prepare them for education and life beyond sports,” she said. “But if they already have something that drives them, our challenge is to figure out how to tap into that and to get them to see how what they’re doing in the classroom can support what they want to do outside the classroom.” Tim Gaylord, chair of the school’s board of trustees, said in a press release that MinerFarra’s background makes her uniquely qualified to do just that. “We are very excited to have Tess joining the Winter Sports School as our next head of school,” he said. “Her knowledge of the complexities our student/athletes must deal with, educator background, involvement in the local community, and commitment to helping move the school to new levels Please see Winter Sports, A-9 BUBBA BROWN/PARK RECORD (Top, from left) Kyle Haas, Sydney Oraskovich, (bottom) Eli Levine and Bryan Croce are members of Park City High School’s Drug Prevention Committee. The committee recently helped organize a screening of the documentary “Dying in Vein,” and the students are optimistic their efforts will help change the conversation about drugs within school halls. Subscribe today! FR EE $50 Egyptian Theatre Gift Card Offer for new, in-county, print, two-year subscribers. Available while supplies last! R OFEFNEDED! EXT While supplies last! Sign up for a new two-year, in Summit County, print subscription and receive a $50 Egyptian Theatre gift card! Please call The Park Record at 435-649-9014 and ask for our circulation department for more details. |