Representative from CDC Visits
with Project BEAT Peer Educator Students

Amy Bianchi, representing the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Department of Adolescent School Health in Atlanta, visited three Broward high schools this past spring to talk to students about Project BEAT (Bridging Education and Attitudes in Teens). The program uses a peer-to-peer model to teach high school students skills for living a healthy and HIV-free (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) life. Broward’s Project BEAT program is one of only 18 in the nation funded by the CDC and is the result of the collaborative efforts of the District’s Health Education Services Department and the Broward County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

During her visit, Ms. Bianchi had an opportunity to interact with Project BEAT Peer Educator students from Stoneman Douglas, Plantation and Blanche Ely high schools. The program, also offered at Hollywood Hills High, will be rolled out at four additional high schools this year.

According to 2005 CDC statistics, Broward County has the highest level of new AIDS cases in the country -- 58.4 cases per 100,000 population. AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a condition that results from HIV infection. Florida also leads the nation in the number of youths, under the age of 13, living with AIDS (CDC statistics, 2003).

Peer education can be a powerful tool. The Project BEAT Peer Education Program can influence students’ values and behaviors, reducing their risk of contracting HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. It works by training peer educator students to effectively, accurately and comfortably communicate to their peers facts regarding the transmission of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, and other health-related conditions. They also provide encouragement in making safe decisions. All training and peer presentations are supervised and guided by certified Red Cross and District staff.

Project BEAT allows students to relate to other teens about essential health information; talk about issues that affect them; share prevention and resistance strategies; and help adults understand teen attitudes, behaviors and “real-world” challenges.

After visiting with peer educator students from the three high schools, Ms. Bianchi said, “The feedback from the peer educators was overwhelmingly positive and clearly demonstrated the potential impact of the peer education program on both the peer educators and their fellow classmates. The students seem to be very receptive to learning about HIV/AIDS prevention from their peers.”

For more information on Project BEAT, please contact Health Education Services at 754-321-2272.

Special Ceremonies
Grand Opening Held for New Lauderdale Lakes Swimming Complex
Just in time for summer, the City of Lauderdale Lakes held a grand opening ceremony for the Lauderdale Lakes Swimming Pool Complex, located on N.W. 39th Street between Oriole Elementary School and Lauderdale Lakes Middle School. The pool officially opened to the public on June 17 for both instructional and recreational use. The complex features a heated pool with six 25-yard lanes, a zero-foot depth entry and a large “learn-to-swim” area. The School Board donated land for the complex.

Coral Springs High School Dedicates New Buildings, Celebrates Milestone Year
Coral Springs High School celebrated the successful completion of two new classroom-building projects with a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony held on May 4th. The event also marked the school’s 30th anniversary with a theme of “Pursuing Academic Excellence 30 Years Strong.” City officials, civic and community members joined school administrators, teachers, staff, parents and students in a formal dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new, state-of-the-art facilities. The facilities include a 13-general classroom building and a 24-classroom science wing which house the school’s ninth grade students, science faculty, administration and support staff.

Media Center Named for Retired Educator
School Board members honored a request by Principal Bertha Hunter and a committee of faculty, parents, students and community members to name the Rock Island Elementary School Media Center “The Pauline J. Green Media Center.” Green retired from the school in 2003 after 35 years of dedicated service as an educator and media specialist. “She has been and continues to be a positive and admired role model to our students, teachers and staff,” Hunter said.

Pines Middle Breaks Ground for Replacement School
On May 11th, Pines Middle School celebrated the official groundbreaking for its replacement school with a theme of “Building a Brighter Tomorrow.” School Board members, city officials, former principals, staff, students and parents participated in the celebration. The $24 million project calls for a phased replacement and will involve the construction of a new building and the subsequent demolition of the existing school. The new facility will be two stories high and will accommodate 1,748 students. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2007.