Fall River's Team FRESH (Fall River Extends Supportive Hands) high school students ran a session with 8th-grade Morton Middle School students in the PLOT (Promise Leaders of Tomorrow) youth group on May 13, 2009. The session was part of their volunteer efforts to orient students before they enter B.M.C. Durfee High School in the fall. Research indicates that a successful transition from middle school to high school can help to prevent school drop-out, and this type of group can be very helpful in making the task easier. Team FRESH supports a number of health promotion and prevention efforts throughout the City. For information about the PLOT group, contact Massachusetts Promise Fellow Brendan Sullivan at 315-832-0234. For information about Team FRESH, contact Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey at 508-324-2419.
 

.(Top row, left) Jessica Garcia and Catherine Cabral open the discussion by introducing themselves to the middle school students. (Top row, center) Zach Sonallah and Jessica Garcia outline the topic of adjustment to the high school experience. (Top row, right) Jessica and Catherine listen as Mei Yu Fang talks about her experience with starting high school. (Middle row, left) Nicholas Dumont and Brielle Batista introduce themselves with gestures in a group icebreaker. (Middle row, right) Alex Hernandez listens as Zach Sonallah dispels some of the false reports of the number of fights in at Durfee High School. (Bottom row, left) Alexander Holden and Michael Tarvin listen intently as Mei Yu Fang responds to their questions. (Bottom row, center) Massachusetts Promise Fellow Brendan Sullivan listens to some suggestions from Fall River Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey as Jessica Garcia listens. (Bottom row, right) Nicholas, Alexander and Brielle enjoy a quick game of tag to get some needed exercise to break up the session.