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Students show gambling-awareness video after $5,000 AHm grant; district seeks wider sharing
Summary
Students from the AHm youth group presented a gambling-awareness media project funded by a $5,000 grant; AHm and students plan classroom showings and online distribution with parental permissions, and the board discussed outreach to families.
Students representing AHm’s youth group screened a short gambling-awareness video at the Region 8 board meeting and described the process to develop the script, pitch and final media product.
Tressa Giordano, executive director of AHm, said the nonprofit serves as the Youth Service Bureau for Andover, Hebron and Marlboro and helped students develop the submission that won a $5,000 grant from state sources to produce the project. "We were one of 10 schools chosen to do that," Giordano said. The students then premiered their video at a "kids vs. cops" event on campus.
Student presenter Ethan Spinelli, in public comment and separate remarks, described the role of student leadership and activities leading into spring events and thanked staff; he also noted the district received an email about the recent resignation of the IT coordinator. Carol Rusch, who joined the meeting online and was described as a sponsor, praised the students’ work as "a great experience" that involved writing, rehearsal and public presentation.
Board members asked whether the virtual showcase that drew more than 100 attendees was open to the public or limited to students and advisors. Giordano said the virtual event included students, the funders (named in the presentation) and advisors; she added that AHm has permission forms to allow the district to show the video and that the piece is expected to be incorporated into health classes and district media channels. "It's a really powerful project to have students teaching other students and maybe even other adults," Giordano said.
Clarifying details from the meeting: the youth media project was supported by a $5,000 grant (state grant) and the AHm speaker said AHm has about 30 staff and serves roughly 12,000 residents annually. The students said the timing — coinciding with March Madness sports coverage — made their gambling-awareness message timely.
Next steps: Administrators said the video will be posted where permissions allow and shown in some classes; board members encouraged wider parent notification about the resource.
