Frequently Asked Questions

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 This program was thought up a few years back. The reason for the program is almost like a second chance. However, under the circumstances, we are hoping it is a first chance. A first chance for students and parents to connect. Connect on common grounds. Students and the society to connect on the same common grounds with talent. Be it music, acting, writing, painting, sculpting or any other form of expression. The ability to express oneself in non-judgmental environments can make one feel heard. To be heard is to feel recognized. Recognition in non selfish forms can bring peace, to what may otherwise be a turmoiled mind. Expression through art, not through anger, is productive. Instead of allowing more stories to have their lights go out, let's allow the lights to continue to burn. Allow more stories to be heard as well as be told. Let future stories learn from past. A painting can say a million words and it can save just as many people. Productively transfer vigilant energy into effective outcomes. Instead of having a system falling apart, it will create a system with more understanding. Understanding that as a community in a whole and looking out for one another is our solution. Passing on the positive lessons of the older generations, while we listen to the stories of the younger. Creating bridges and positive relationships through community outreach. Volunteers from the community, be it student parents, local community and people of all areas. With a system set up to protect all those involved, this environment, this atmosphere, this idea, we feel is exactly what may help at Coatesville Area School District.

Purpose: The goal of the program is to connect each student with their natural talent. A natural talent is a comfortable way for somebody to express themselves. This program would help develop these talents into forms of expression. Expressing ourselves in ways where we are comfortable, in settings where we are relaxed. Expressing ourselves and being heard reduces vigilance. This in turn will hep make more rash, less triggered, decisions. The longer we feel we are not heard the harder it is sometimes to stay focused and keep calm. At times we feel it can cause one to be overreactive.

We feel by creating an environment, hopefully multiple over time, will help students develop new productive coping skills. Mental health is a major topic and can be soothed by all forms of art. We feel by reducing tensions and hearing stories, we will see better relationships throughout.

Volunteering: The programs vision is to reach out to those within the school district to volunteer time. Many talents, through a system of vetting, could help build the program. At one point we would put an area on the website for volunteers to reach out. As of now, they can email us from the website.

Our hopes are that by creating this as a non profit program, the cost of the vetting process may be covered. This is an area where we would be happy to do more research and get more specific answers.

Classes: The classes would be structured. We would need to discuss if the township would see this more fit during the day or after school. We feel that a sixty minute or more class would allow students to process enough of these energies and to start working through them. This could be looked more into over time as well, as far as timing advised.

Activities: In each class the students would be taught different topics. So to refer you to say, Main Line Night School, would be a basic idea of how this would work. In these classes the students would learn to convert underlying energy into productive, physical results. Encouraging the students to express themselves through their natural talents. We feel this would clear their mind to go into the community and to make overall more mindful decisions.

Location: Again we would refer to the School Night theory. We feel that keeping this within the schools would be most effective. This would help keep it in a more controlled environment, but also offering more security to all those involved.

Timing: This would depend on what is best for the schools. We do however, feel that the end of the school day would be best. This would be the time where left over energy from the school day could convert into negative behavior outside of school if left alone. In all good intentions this is to allow a safe environment where students are given a chance to process. A chance to speak. A chance to be heard. Mostly, a chance to be different.