Students tout peer-led prevention and Playbook anti-bias program to school committee

High-school student leaders described prevention and leadership work at Holliston Public Schools. Members of the Holliston Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition’s Youth Action Team reported community cleanups, statewide advocacy trips (including Enough Day and meetings with elected officials), a wellness field day with a drunk-driving simulator and well-being resources, and short videos being prepared for middle-school wellness classes.

Playbook trainers (a program led by Project 351 in partnership with the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation and New Balance) described a three-workshop model in which high-school trainers instruct middle-school students in leadership, empathetic listening and strategies to respond to identity-based discrimination. Trainers explained interactive activities—icebreakers like the “F game,” agree/disagree/unsure exercises, scenario-based role play—and a culminating Playbook day of action in which middle-school participants run mini-workshops for younger students.

Students who took part in Playbook said the program taught them to be upstanders and to consider multiple perspectives. Zed said, “I think the Playbook initiative is important because it teaches the younger generation how people are being treated unfairly due to their identities and different perspectives.” The committee asked that the student presentation materials be posted online for community review and thanked the students for their leadership.

No committee votes were required for the presentations; the committee welcomed the students and encouraged continued partnership with district wellness and curriculum staff.