Awareness is Power
How many students heard the message of your project?
800
Estimated percentage of your student body?
91-100%
Who has your project aimed to reach?
Freshman class, Sophomore class, Junior class, Senior class, School professionals, Other (RBC community)
Objective:
Awareness is power and with this power comes responsibility and choice. All drivers , passengers and pedestrians need to be aware of each other, themselves and surroundings.It is their responsibility and the choice they need to make is JUST DRIVE.
Target Audience:
All our students and teachers who drive, are passengers and pedestrians including the RBC community.
Execution:
Last May RBC community lost a very special alum, Norah Bruther,class of 2016. Norah was hit by a distracted driver as she was crossing the street. Norah was very active in the Just Drive campaigns her junior and senior years. Mrs. Booth showed her club Norah’s senior Just Drive video, Caseys Fighting against Distracted Driving. It was then, it was decided. that we wanted to bring Norah’s. tragedy together with a positive 2023 Just Drive campaign.
The students felt if the driver was more aware of his surroundings, maybe this crash would have never happened, key word being AWARE. This awareness is powerful , it can save lives and this power is the responsibility of the driver, the passenger and the pedestrian.All three must work together. Our slogan was created ,Awareness is Power.
The implementation came, first introducing Norah to the RBC community. Mrs. Booth and Ms Buchman, classmate of Norah’s, made a video telling all about Norah, her love for life, her determination to get things done, her way and her passion for Just Drive.and so much more. Then the students made a video explaining the importance of our campaign, Awareness is Power and showed this to our student body along with Norah’s Just Drive video 2016.Both videos are at the end of this report with our 2023 main video.
Then we began to push our campaign with having pink wristbands made with Awareness is Power and inside the band Norah Forever.We then had pink tee shirts with our message, awareness is power and this power brings responsibility and choice, caseys choose wisely , choose JUST DRIVE. We had a bake sale along with a dress down day when all wore the pink tee shirts. Yes, pink was Norah’s favorite color.
All the money we raised went to Nora’;s scholarship, in the name of JUST DRIVE.
Norah was a part of our 2023 Just Drive campaign.
Teamwork:
Use of resources:
Red Bank Police helped us dance in the streets with the cross roads in front of RBC and shared the dangers , especially during school hours.
The Bruther Family supported the campaign, especially Emma, Norah’s sister remarks. Emma speaks in the video.
We reached to some of Norah’s classmates, some bought wristband and tees and even sent clips.
Mr Ansell, a criminal lawyer came to RBC to speak to our junior class about the legal consequences of distracted driving.
Mr. Steven Benevista is coming to our school to talk to our seniors may 17.
Use of media:
social media / instagram and facebook /posts for Just Drive
just drive psa
Wellness Wednesday video
Thoroughness:
They saw that these tragedies can be prevented if all drivers, passengers and pedestrians know the importance of awareness on the road. All three have the power to save lives together. They, the teens, have the power to keep the roads safe and save lives. They might not all be drivers yet but they will be and still they are all passengers and pedestrians, who have the power and the responsibility to save lives by being aware on the roads.
Impact:
The measurement was the compassion they showed about the loss of Norah.
Also the commitment they had to deliver the message about awareness is power was strong.
It was the evident they wanted to be the change.
Sustainability:
Our students felt and saw the sadness and pain that distracted driving can bring to a family and loved ones.They also realize that they can make a difference because they have the power of awareness as a driver, passenger and pedestrian. They are the present and the future hope for just drive.
More important they want to make a difference on the roads.
Unexpected Lessons Learned:
The compassion that the kids showed for the Bruther family, and the RBC community.
I truly believe the kids feel that they can actually make a difference
and more important want to be the change.
They all identified because they are drivers, passengers and pedestrians
Stipend Reporting:
Your school received a stipend to support your Champion School Teen Driving Safety Project. Additionally, any funds that you raised as a result of your project must be reinvested into transportation safety. The purpose of this report is to itemize expenditures for your project that were paid from the stipend
Wrist bands – $400
Tee shirts – $600
Total – $1000
Did your school project raise any funds as a result of the stipend received?
As the U Got Brains Champion Schools Program is funded through the Division of highway Traffic Safety, funds raised as a result of the stipend received must be reinvested into transportation safety. If yes, please briefly report the total amount and how this money will be reinvested into transportation safety for your school/community? Yes we have raised 400 dollars. We had a meeting with the Red Bank Police. Patrolman Daren and we talked about putting a sign to remind the morning traffic in front of our 2 schools to be patient and aware as you approach the schools. He is helping us to design the sign and he is helping us with a permit.
PROJECT MEDIA
