CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERY STUDENT AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING STUDENT COORDINATORS MARISSA ALVAREZ AND ANAHI ANGUIANO!
For the 2 1/2 years since I have joined Anderson Valley Unified, I have heard constant memories of the alcohol education program “Every 15 Minutes” that used to be a gold standard of alcohol awareness education at Anderson Valley Junior Senior High School. In the “old days”, it was a community endeavor that brought together students, parents, law enforcement, and fire life safety. It is with great pride and pleasure that I congratulate Marissa Alvarez and Anahi Anguiano and their 15 student volunteers on their senior project achievement today. It’s BACK!
The two seniors successfully coordinated an alcohol-related crash scene reenactment complete with fire life safety extraction by the wonderful Anderson Valley Fire Department and Ambulance team under the leadership of Chief Andres Avila.
The day began with the Grim Reaper accompanied by California Highway Patrol Officer Marin volunteers, pulling students every 15 minutes from their classrooms as a potential accident victim. Officer Marin and their volunteers would read the student’s obituary outloud as students exited the classroom with the Reaper.
When the students had been removed to a holding area, the drama shifted to the staged crash scene complete with a deceased teen, a critically injured patient and a student arrested for causing the accident. The first responders acted out a crash response drama and the injured victim was transported in a helicopter by CalStar 4 as students watched the process. The crash vehicles were provided by A-1 Towing.
This was no small feat. The amount of community and agency support that rallied around these students, including fire and safety personnel, the helicopter team, and parents was truly remarkable. Last week, on a very tight turn-around, Caltrans stepped in and coordinated a site inspection to make sure the helicopter could land on the softball field. More than 15 students participated in the reenactment which was viewed by the full high school student body. A reflection assembly will conclude the activity on Wednesday.
It is always amazing to me what students can do. One of the students’ mother had participated in the program when she attended Anderson Valley High School, and understood the preventative value of the reenactment. This was a tremendous effort by the students, fire and life safety agencies, parents, and volunteers to make an impactful choice-shaping event.
The district wishes to express our sincere thanks to the law and fire enforcement, flight crews, medical, towing, and safety partners that made this possible. We are very proud of Anahi and Marissa, and celebrate their achievement.
Louise Simson
Superintendent