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BLOOMINGDALE -- The Jefferson County Joint Vocational School is preparing for a Sources of Strength Color Bash to celebrate the end of the school year.
The event will be held at 1 p.m. May 10 in the school parking lot where approximately 100 students and staff members will gather to complete an obstacle course with an explosion of colored chalk. Supervisor and Assistant Principal Gabrielle Wilson said the activity is coordinated by the Sources of Strength organization which she advises along with mental health counselor Don Ogden.
"The students thought of doing a Color Bash," Wilson said, noting the idea originated from last year's group. "We decided it would be the grand finale this year and we're seeing it as a last hurrah for the seniors, although juniors can participate."
Participants had the option to pay $5 for event entry and a slushy or $20 for entry, a slushy and a T-shirt. The school's Transition to Work program will provide the treats.
SOS is a global mental health and suicide prevention initiative. Students serve as peer leaders with the goal of spreading hope, help and strength. The JVS established an organization last spring. Junior and senior members were nominated to participate by staff members and underwent training to understand how to support teens facing physical, emotional and mental health issues and share resources to get help. Since its formation, the group has doubled to more than 20 members. They created a bulletin board and community table in the cafeteria and held various fundraisers.
Wilson said the first year focused on peer support. This year, members took the lead with more activities. She hopes the Color Bash will become an annual event and will one day be held off campus and include community participation.
"We hope we can build it and include the home schools," Wilson concluded. "We're hoping with social media and coverage we can get more community support and get more people involved." Future events can be moved to Saturdays to include more people.
"That's our big dream," she said. "We want to do activities next year to give back and include more people in activities and fundraisers."
Proceeds from the event will defray the cost of shirts and support future SOS activities.