The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Front Page

December 24, 2012

RESA 1 learns what 'Common Ground' offers

By Sarah Plummer Register-Herald Reporter

A representative from the West Virginia Office of School Improvement presented information on “Common Ground” at the RESA 1 Regional School Wellness Council Meeting last week.

Shelly DeBerry, state student success advocate coordinator, said Common Ground is a program that uses services provided by the military for classroom presentations, health and wellness activities, and career counseling.

Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Anthony explained this program is a “great way to finally debunk the myth that we are just here to recruit students. We are here to give back to and be involved with the community.”

DeBerry said the military can provide invaluable classroom presentations on topics such as anti-bullying, suicide prevention and substance abuse.

“These are all hot issues right now in schools. We are not exempt from any of them in West Virginia, and these are all issues these military men already have detailed training in,” she said.

Also, through the Common Ground program, military personnel can act as additional career counselors.

“The message they bring is, ‘Graduate and create a future for yourself. We have a future we can offer you, but if you are not interested, let’s help you create another future.’”

She said the biggest hurdle is changing the “recruiter image” of the military in schools. Instead, military officers have experience in interpreting aptitude tests and interest inventories, experience that would greatly assist a high school student searching for a career path.

DeBerry explained that in West Virginia there is one career counselor for every 400 students. The national recommended ratio is one per every 250.

“School counselors are missing opportunities to be able to provide intensive career counseling services to students. This is another way to access it for them,” she said.

Right now Common Ground is just taking off in West Virginia, said Capt.. Tim Lohse.

“We are growing by word of mouth. When we get involved in a school, we do such a good job more schools in that area request us,” he said.

DeBerry said Common Grounds is being used in small pockets across the state in Boone, Wood, Parkersburg and Randolph counties, but many schools are missing out on the full spectrum of services provided by the military.

Those present at the Regional School Wellness Council Meeting were excited about using military services to boost physical activity. They discussed having students work through different field tests manned by members of the military.

Representatives from the military said many physical education teachers have told them that having the military there training with students often increases their drive to do well.

“This is a great program. One reason I asked them to this meeting is to help share information across our region about these opportunities that are available to use,” said Ann Sammons, RESA 1 regional school wellness specialist.

“We definitely want to be involved in the community any way we can. Common Grounds not only helps us, it helps the community,” added Staff Sgt. Brian Tony.

Counties, schools or individual classrooms can request presentations on the West Virginia Department of Education’s Common Ground Partnership webpage.

For more information, visit http://wvde.state. wv.us/common-ground.

Text Only
Today's Front Page
  • powerball Drawing tonight

    With an estimated Powerball Jackpot of $600 million, the largest prize in the game’s history and the world’s second largest lottery prize, many local residents are dreaming of how they would spend their fortune if they were to strike it rich.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Details still ‘sketchy’ concerning shutdown of cardiac stent procedures at RGH

     The four-day suspension of heart stent procedures at Raleigh General Hospital due to an “unexpected availability of physician coverage” and without further explanation has left more questions than answers, answers that, according to hospital spokesman and Director of Marketing Kevin McGraw, will not be available until at least Monday.

    May 18, 2013

  • ticket 2013 Click-it Or Ticket campaign starts today

    Beckley Police Lt. Paul Blume wants to let motorists know that if they get pulled over in the Beckley area today, they’re getting a ticket.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • grad An Eye Toward the Future

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • RGH suspends heart stent procedures until Monday

     Officials at Raleigh General Hospital issued a statement late Thursday afternoon indicating that “due to the unexpected unavailability of physician coverage,” cardiac stent procedures won’t be available to area residents at the Beckley facility until Monday, May 20.
     No other details were provided by hospital officials.
     Interventional cardiac care procedures were launched at RGH in November 2009 to serve a growing need for angioplasty lab services in Southern West Virginia.
     

    May 16, 2013

  • Thompson to depart house speaker post

    Rick Thompson is abandoning his post as speaker of the House of Delegates to accept a cabinet-level job in the Tomblin administration as head of the Department of Veterans Assistance.
    Thompson’s departure is likely to trigger a scramble to succeed him as speaker, with a number of Democrats expected to jockey for the post.

    May 16, 2013

  • No Powerball winner; jackpot soars to $475 million

    The Powerball jackpot has climbed to $475 million after no tickets matched the winning numbers in the latest drawing.

    May 16, 2013

  • W.Va. House speaker to take Cabinet post

    Sources tell The Associated Press that House Speaker Richard Thompson is leaving the Legislature to join Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Cabinet.

    May 16, 2013

  • At least 6 confirmed dead in Texas tornadoes

    A rash of tornados slammed into several small communities in North Texas overnight, leaving at least six people dead, dozens more injured and hundreds homeless. The violent spring storm scattered bodies, flattened homes, threw trailers onto cars.

    May 16, 2013

  • 051613 1A1 News FOP 1.jpg THIN BLUE LINE — National Peace Officers Memorial Day observed

    Police and community members took time Wednesday to pause and memorialize.
    “These are men and women who had a calling for peace in a world full of darkness, those who chose to represent a thin blue line that runs through that darkness,” Lt. R.S. Prince of the Oak Hill Police Department, who served as master of ceremonies, told the gathered crowd.

    May 16, 2013 2 Photos