NCUFY Supports Our Community’s Fight Against Racism

As a Coalition committed to creating an interconnected community, addressing challenges that our teens face and promoting a safe environment, NCUFY is horrified and saddened by the racist incidents happening in our country and in our own community. We recognize the harm inflicted on persons of color, our nation, our community and our youth. As an organization devoted to helping youth make positive choices and to fostering positive dialogue in our community, we hope to help bring about change by continuing to promote education and community connectedness.

We hope that members of our community will join us in our commitment to working to bring about change. Greeley families can start by supporting the efforts of our students on June 9, Greeley’s second annual Unity Day through encouraging your student’s attendance at the seminars and continuing the discussions at home designed to actively oppose systematic hate, oppression, and inequality. 

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Wellness Week – Social Distancing Style

COVID-19 has forced our teachers and students to get creative with ways to continue school traditions like Wellness Week. This year sees Seven Bridges and Bell Middle Schools join forces for virtual Wellness Week!  Middle school staff, including NCUFY sponsored Middle School Prevention Specialist Valerie Sutton will guide students through wellness challenges and zoom sessions for kids to interact virtually and find ways to practice wellness in these trying times.  There are five wellness themed days. The week kicks off with Mindful Monday and continues with Thoughtful Tuesday, Wellness Wednesday, Thankful Thursday and Fitness Friday. Each day brings new people hosting zooms, kids get to spend time with teachers and professionals for a full wellness experience. Each day is dedicated to teaching kids the importance of staying healthy even when  stuck at home.

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NCUFY is Part of Greeley Community Service Expo

New Castle United for Youth was excited to participate today in the Community Service Expo at Horace Greeley High School. NCUFY was one of over 30 organizations who came to share information with Greeley students about local volunteer opportunities.   Students visited Coalition Coordinator Joe Durney at our table, spun our prize wheel to learn… Read more »

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The Great American Smokeout – How to Help Your Teen Quit Vaping Now

This week marked the 42nd year of the Great American Smoke Out,  an event sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Originally conceived to draw attention to the health impacts of cigarette smoking and exposure to second hand smoke and to encourage people to stop smoking, this concept has taken on new importance with the rise in vaping, particularly among teens. 

The rise in numbers of teens who report vaping and of vape related lung illnesses shows that the allure of vape products and the addictive properties of nicotine has created a public health crisis much like that of the traditional tobacco products of the 1970s. So the Great American Smoke Out presents a great opportunity to talk to your teens (or others) about how to quit vaping. 

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Jarrett Krosoczka Visits Chappaqua Schools

Did you know that the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, the Chappaqua Central School District and the Chappaqua PTA have partnered to bring award winning author Jarrett Krosoczka to speak to eighth and ninth graders at Bell and Seven Bridges Middle Schools and Horace Greeley High School on Tuesday, November 11? Krosoczka is known for his humorous children’s books — such as the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series — but his latest book, “Hey, Kiddo,” is different. In it he tells his own story of growing up with addiction in the family and finding the art that helped him to survive. 

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Shaun Derik – Red Ribbon Week Keynote Speaker at Greeley

For the third year running, NCUFY is pleased to partner with Horace Greeley High School and its SADD Club. This partnership brings a speaker with an empowering message promoting positive life choices to present to students early in the school year. This year’s speaker is Shaun Derik. Shaun is a motivational speaker whose “Use Your INSIDE Voices” presentation uses a blend of dynamic message delivery, comedy and live music to motivate and energize his audience.

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Halloween 2019

While some teens still use Halloween as an occasion to go house to house for trick or treating, many teens (and adults) spend their Halloween or a nearby weekend night dressing up and attending fun Halloween themed parties. Halloween has become one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year, and is a high stakes occasion for our teens. Coming early in the school year, Halloween celebrations can help set the stage for behavior around drugs and alcohol for the rest of the year. This makes family conversations around Halloween plans and expectations all the more important.

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CCBF 2019 Is In The Books!

NCUFY had a wonderful time at the amazing 2019 Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival! Bringing to the CCBF our themes of “Join the Conversation” and “Family Connection is Prevention”, we interacted with hundreds of families. Children and adults alike spun our prize wheel and told us about some of their favorite Family Connections – favorite meals,… Read more »

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Join Us At the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival

Saturday, October 5
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Bell Middle School

Did you know that New Castle United for Youth is a sponsor of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival? Family activities such as attending festivals and reading together are important prevention work. Research has shown that the level of family bonding and connectedness is a strong predictor of adolescent substance use. Building family connections and a positive family dynamic can help protect children from making poor choices around alcohol and other drugs.NCUFY is proud to help give families opportunities to share a love of reading and perhaps to help create opportunities for important conversations around family values including alcohol and other drug use.

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Welcome Valerie Sutton, Middle School Prevention Specialist

With the school year off to a great start, we want to extend a warm NCUFY welcome to Valerie Sutton, the new Middle School Prevention Specialist at Bell and Seven Bridges middle schools. Valerie is a Licensed Master of Social Work and received her MSW from Lehman College. She began her career working in prevention counseling at the Harrison Youth Council. She now works as a part of Student Assistance Services at both Robert E. Bell and Seven Bridges Middle School. Valerie enjoys reading, playing with her dog Chewy and working with young people to help them make positive choices. She is excited to start this new journey in Chappaqua!

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