• RONNI ROTHSTEIN
    ADVISOR 
    HEALTH/PE Department
    Ext: 36-445   East Campus

    HEROES & COOL KIDS

     

    WHO WE ARE

    Heroes & Cool Kids, which began operating during the 1998-99 school year, is a not-for-profit organization based in New Jersey. The program utilizes the services of current and former professional athletes whose personal life experiences enable them to train high school student leaders.

    WHAT WE DO

    The athletes train high school students to mentor middle school students on important life skills, including sportsmanship, conflict resolution and positive lifestyle choices highlighting drug, alcohol and tobacco prevention

    WHERE WE DO IT

    Heroes & Cool Kids is currently implemented in nine counties around New Jersey. The athletes and high school students make three site visits to the middle schools each year.

    To prepare, the high school students must complete three training conferences before mentoring the middle school students. These conferences are held at the Vonation (Vonage in Holmdel, NJ) and at Bergen Community College in Paramus

     
      Leadership Objective
     
    The objective of the program is to train high school students to mentor 5th and 6th grade elementary school students in making proper lifestyle choices. This training includes Group Work, Public Speaking, Developing Motivational Messages and Learning to Take the Positive Approach.
     
    Participants:
    High profile male and female high school students who:
    •Want to participate
    •Maintain good academic standing
    •Are positive role models
    •Exhibit good behavior on and off the field
    •Show good communication skills or desire communication skills training
     
    CONFERENCES AND SCHOOL VISITS
     
     High schools implementing the Heroes and Cool Kids program in their district attend three training conferences annually. These are the training grounds that prepare them for their three visits to the elementary schools.Each conference attended by the high school students includes interactive breakout sessions that allow students to work with former professional athletes and students from other area high schools. A follow-up visit to refine the training is scheduled at each high school prior to the elementary school visit.The first visit to the elementary school is dedicated to getting acquainted with their high school mentors and dispelling myths and fears about high school.The second visit is geared towards bully prevention as well as conflict resolution on and off the field.The third visit is about making positive lifestyle choices highlighting drug, alcohol, and tobacco use prevention.