The Falcons’ Lounge – a program of Manchester Regional High School (MRHS) in Haledon, New Jersey and Care Plus NJ, Inc. (“Care Plus NJ”) – will host their 5th Annual Dodgeball tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm.
Proceeds from the event fund the MRHS class of 2013 Safe Celebrations conference, a day-long program held prior to the prom designed to give seniors an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments while learning about making safe choices when it comes to drugs, alcohol, and relationships.
The Dodgeball Tournament was started in 2008 by Sue Olsen, a former physical education teacher at MRHS, to fund the Safe Celebrations conference which was introduced the year prior. MRHS Falcons’ Lounge uses community ties to sell tickets and obtain sponsors and donations for the tournament. For example, North Haledon Pizza has been a consistent supporter and is this year once again donating pizza to the event.
The Falcons’ Lounge, a School Based Youth Service Program located at Manchester Regional High School, is funded through a state grant and operated by Care Plus NJ. The program – available to the student population of MRHS – is derived from the philosophy that students are more likely to successfully complete high school when there are year-round opportunities for structured recreation, psycho-education, skill-building activities, and counseling in a non-stigmatizing school-based environment. Some of the various outreach and developmental activities include college-bound student workshops, Behavioral Health counseling, peer leadership activities, homework assistance, and freshmen individualitioning programs.
“The Falcons’ Lounge has helped shape the lives of its participating students both past and present. It’s through our Dodgeball Tournament that we are able to fund and maintain important programs such as the Safe Celebrations conference,” said Lorraine Gehrig Mullins, LCSW, Director of the MRHS School Based Youth Services Program. She continued, “Over the years, our students have told us that they learned valuable information during the conference that impacted their decision-making on prom night.”
All are welcome to attend the Dodgeball Tournament. Tickets are $2 prior to the event and $3 the day of. Individuals or business can support the event by purchasing tickets and donating them back to the school for use by the students, or by donating goods and services. For more information, contact Lorraine Gehrig Mullins by email at LorraineG@localhost or by calling 973-389-2870.
