By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Two classes at Houlton Junior Senior High School combined to produce a video presentation to hammer home the importance of breast cancer self-check and screening.
The Beacon TV class, along with the Health 2 class, showed a video on “Get Your Pink On Day,” during a senior high assembly on Oct. 25. The video featured Sue Pierce and Hollie McPartland, Houlton guidance counselors, along with a student who talked about how breast cancer affects a family and how someone deals with that emotion.
Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
HEALTH 2 — Helping with the Breast Cancer Awareness video for Houlton High School’s assembly were members of the Health 2 class. They are, from left, Jessica Thorne, Jenna Kenney, Jessy Dickison, Abby Deveau, Abigail Moody and Jordan Violette.
The second video released by the “Get In Touch” Foundation explained the “daisy wheel,” a self-check guide for breast examination. The “Get In Touch” Foundation is a non-profit organization that is committed to raising awareness about breast health and education.
“The Beacon TV class put many hours into interviewing student and staff members,” said Holly Hodgkins, high school nurse. “Nicholas Guy spent hours editing the video and making the transition to the daisy wheel presentation seamless.”
The idea for the video presentation was developed in a spring Professional Learning Group, which are held each Tuesday for SAD 29 teachers. Working in the group were: Hodgkins, Harmony Beaton, elementary school nurse; Beth Hunt, health teacher; Bruce Nason, Todd Willard, Shawn Graham and Shari Good, physical education teachers and Karen Fournier, ed. tech.
“Many facts about breast cancer were presented that students may not have been aware of,” explained Hodgkins. “We also showed them through our interviews with staff members that the way society perceives breast cancer has changed with time. By giving each student a tool to assist with self breast exams, hopefully they will begin a practice that will last throughout their lives.”
Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
BEACON CLASS — Helping to produce the Breast Cancer Awareness video for Houlton High School’s assembly were: front, Sarah Abbotoni, Kayla Whitney and Lexi Bartlett; back, Ryan Tribou, Nick Guy, Trey Whitney, Maxwell Bradshaw and Cameron Clark.
The “daisy wheel” was presented at a school nurse’s conference. Though Hodgkins did not attend that particular conference, she heard positive feedback from her colleagues on this guide tool.
“I took the idea to my PLG for discussion,” Hodgkins said. “Our group felt we would make a greater impact on our student body if we involved students in the presentation. That’s when we decided to contact Carmen McGuire, our Beacon TV teacher, to see if the class would be interested in the project.”
Organizers plan to assess the effectiveness of the presentation over the next few weeks.
“We feel the presentation was well received,” said Hodgkins. “The students seem to be engaged during the presentation and handled the topic appropriately.”
Another event may be planned according to the feedback received from students and faculty.
The Student Council helped in the assembly by collecting “change for change” after the event. The donations will be shared with the Bridge to Hope Foundation and the “Get in Touch” Foundation.
The Health 2 class assisted by distributing the daisy wheels after the presentation. They also helped by placing flyers around the school to promote the “Get Your Pink on Day.”
“We encouraged students and staff to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness, too,” said Hodgkins.
Hunter McLaughlin was the emcee for the presentation and students in the Health 2 class are Breanna Boynton, Abigail Deveau, Jenna Kenney, Abigail Moody, Jessica Thorne and Jordan Violette; and the Beacon TV class members are Sarah Abbotoni, Lexi Bartlett, Simon Blanchette, Maxwell Bradshaw, Cameron Clark, Isaac Morse, Ryan Tribou, Frederick Whitney, Kayla Whitney and Nick Guy.
