Life Skills Day: Educating the Whole Child

     Many schools talk about educating the whole the child, but Union Academy proactively puts this mission into action. One example is UA's High School Life Skills Day. On Life Skills Day, students are divided by grade level and spend a school day attending programs on interview skills, table etiquette, sewing, CPR, and more. The annual event began in November of 2014 under the guidance of Shannen Bretz. According to Bretz the event grew from a brainstorm about what students needed before graduation. He said, "We heard that employers and universities were looking for 'soft skills,' like empathy, responsibility, initiative, and manners. We designed life skills day to encompass these concepts in an effort to develop the whole child and to educate for all parts of life."
     On Thursday, April 13, Union Academy held it's 3rd annual Life Skills Day. According to Kelly Brun, school counselor who has coordinated the efforts for the past two years, the school has made a conscious effort to provide different skills each year and to constantly adapt the program to meet the needs of the students. "Each year we survey the students and the speakers to assess areas of success and improvement.  We also use the survey to solicit new ideas," she said.  For instance, this year the lesson on how to change a tire was hands-on. Sophomore students were divided into small groups and worked together to read a vehicle's owner manual and work through the steps necessary to change a flat. 

     In 2017, twenty-four skills were taught. Each grade level circulated through six different skills. All high school students learned self-defense thanks to Sangrock Black Belt World, US Taekwondo Academy, Roar Taekwondo, and Zen Jiu-Jitsu. Seniors also learned about credit and finance, communication skills, trauma care, and CPR. Juniors learned ethics, how to sew, interview skills, how to register a car, and the importance of a positive social media profile. In addition to how to change a tire and self-defense, sophomore students participated in workshops on table etiquette, stress management, first aid, and impaired safety. Freshmen skills included food safety, relationship skills, fitness, and cyber safety. 
     According to Jim Zorn, the high school principal, one of the best parts of this event is the community support. "Union Academy partnered with nineteen different organizations to make today's event possible." Participants included South Piedmont Community College, Wingate University, North Carolina Cooperate Extension, the State Bureau of Investigation, Turning Point, Monroe Police Department, and Union County Junior Cotillion. In addition,  Union Academy alumni, parents, and grandparents helped teach courses. Community members value the purpose behind Life Skills day. According to Kathy Babula from Youth Meditation, "The best part about Life Skills Day is the variety of instruction regarding the real world that students can immediately put to use. From proper table etiquette to job interview skills to CPR, one never knows when this information will be needed for a 'make or break' moment."
     In addition to the small group workshops, the students ended the day with an assembly called Chasing the Dragon organized by Union Academy's Nursing Department. High school parents were also invited to attend. The assembly touched on the dangers of substance abuse, particularly on the the harmful effects of opioid addiction. One of the speakers at the assembly, Elaine Moffatt, shared her son's story with opioid addiction.  "His addiction began with prescription pill abuse and quickly moved out of his control."

     "With the growing heroin epidemic in North Carolina and across the United States, we think it is important for students to be aware of how dangerous it is to take prescription drugs without doctor supervision," said Monica Kocell, school nurse.  According to Ashley Sabo, head of the Union Academy nursing department, "Information from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) indicates that one in five high school seniors reports misusing prescription drugs at least once in their lifetime.  In addition the DEA reports that 75% of opioid (heroin) abusers started with prescription pills.  Teens and their parents need to be aware of the addictive nature of these pills."  

     From changing tires to substance abuse prevention, Life Skills Day is a proactive way that Union Academy works to ensure the success of their students.  "Keeping our students safe, teaching them to be independent, and preparing them for the future are the real goals of this day," said Kelly Brun. 

Union Academy Family Reunion Day 2017

     Family Reunions are always special times, but especially so at Union Academy Charter School. For the third time this school year, the 1400 members of 27 Union AcaUA Character Educationdemy “families” came together Wednesday, April 5 to work, learn, eat and play.
     Families at the K-12 school consist of elementary, middle and high school students combined in groups of about 50 to form “families.” Each family is distinguished by wearing matching t-shirts. The final reunion of the year, started out with all UA families gathering for a school assembly in the football stadium filled with music and a celebratory mood. Student families then began to make rotations of morning activities.
     Mike Baucom, a trustee with Hometown Heroes, a local non-profit organization that helps children afflicted with cancer, spoke with the students about the value in being charitable with time and money to help those in need in our community. Baucom said, “Giving is the greatest gift your heart will ever receive and no matter how young or old you might be, it’s never too early or too late to start giving to others.” He talked about the organization’s annual Christmas Tree Lot fundraising event and encouraged students of all ages to volunteer helping run the tree sales.
     Following learning about the Hometown Heroes organization, student family groups rotated to the high school gym to make Christmas cards and ornaments to donate to the organization for the tree sale this year. Student-decorated cards will be given away at the lots and the Christmas trees will be decorated with the hand-made ornaments. ”This is so much fun and I like hearing the Christmas music playing now. I hope the ornaments my UA Family made will make someone want to buy a Christmas tree next year to help children with cancer,” said Addie Watkins, third grade student.
     The third and final rotation of the morning allowed an opportunity for all students to sign the base floor and wall beams of the new 32,000 square feet dining and classroom addition being built at the Upper Campus located on MLK, Jr., Boulevard in Monroe. The student names and their thoughts will be forever embedded in the structure of the building.

By Luan Ingram