Prevention and Wellness

Green Dot seeks to reduce interpersonal power-based violence -- bullying, dating violence, and sexual assault -- by empowering bystanders to intervene.

Where does Green Dot come from?

The Green Dot Strategy was developed by social science researcher Dorothy Edwards, PhD, who had grown weary of ineffective anti-bullying and sexual assault prevention efforts. See alteristic.com for more information about Green Dot.

What does it do at LHS?

Each fall, freshmen are introduced to Green Dot in their Health and PE classes. They learn about the 3D's and how to act on behalf of someone getting harmed, even when personal or social barriers are present.

Each month in the school year, LHS hosts a day-long Green Dot Bystander Training for students to do a deep dive into Green Dot influence and leadership.

Twice each school year, LHS promotes Green Dot Action Events to keep the Green Dot message alive.

What is Life of a Wildcat?

Life of a Wildcat is our school-wide brand for programs and activities focused on student health and well-being.

What is the history?

In the fall of 2015, a focus group of 40 juniors and seniors, 20 staff members, and 5 parents gathered to learn from performance science expert, John Underwood, founder of Life of an Athlete - Human Performance Project. The driving question of the day was "Do we want to promote this approach to inspiring healthy living and high performance at LHS?" The response was a unanimous YES. 

That spring (2016), a larger audience of juniors and seniors met with Mr. Underwood to understand how focusing on the lifestyle habits of sleep, stress management, nutrition/hydration, and substance free living profoundly influences academic, athletic, and artistic performance.

The summer of 2016, 20 members of the Class of 2017 attended a local conference at the Loyola University Conference Center in Woodstock, IL with three other schools. These students came up with the name of "Life of a Wildcat" as well as the focus of "Happier Healthier, & Higher-Performing" and set forth plans to begin to bring the mission of inspiring healthy choices to LHS.

The Class of 2017 senior class launched Life of a Wildcat information to freshmen in Link Crew, extended their reach to the junior class, and began annual visits to feeder middle schools to prepare 8th graders for how their lifestyle choices can enhance their lives as high school students.

The Class of 2018 launched greater visibility to mental health through Yellow Ribbon Week and to substance-free living through Red Ribbon Week. They also brought performance science to the Paw Street Journal, our bathroom stall newsletter.

Subsequent years have featured expanding awareness of performance science through Freshman Athletic Orientation, Link Crew, 2nd Period Wellness Leaders, the evolving Paw Street Journal, Yellow & Red Ribbon Weeks, middle school outreach, and more.

In 2021, Life of a Wildcat leaders focused on creating 1) Wildcat Summit, a student-led event focusing on Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Relationships, and Healthy Discourse and 2) Wildcats Rise, a wellness-focused club that meets throughout the school year.

In 2023, the Senior Wellness Board voted for Life of a Wildcat to become the "brand" of all things wellness at LHS.

September - Suicide Prevention Awareness

October - Depression Awareness

November - Gratitude Awareness

December & January  - Wildcat Winter Wellness

February - Teen Dating Violence Awareness

March - Sleep Awareness

April - Stress Awareness, Sexual Assault Awareness, Alcohol Awareness

May - Mental Healh Awareness Month, National Prevention Week

LHS and VHHS collaborate as an Illinois Operation Snowball chapter in this fun and meaningful day where students hear speakers, meet in small discussion and teambuilding groups, and enjoy a day of non-traditional education. Any LHS student can participate.

We especially encourage teams, clubs, and other organized groups to attend together as a way to positively network with other students and student groups from LHS as well as other schools.

Operation Snowball Mission

Through the development of leadership skills, Operation Snowball shall be a youth and adult partnership, providing awareness and prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, while encouraging healthy decision-making in an active community of caring.

What is Operation Snowball?

Operation Snowball is an alcohol and other drug use prevention program focusing on leadership development to empower youth to lead drug-free lives. The name originates from the idea that “If I have a positive impact on you, you can have a positive impact on someone else and the effect snowballs.” Out of this concept emerges “A Community of Caring” – the success of Operation Snowball. 

Approaches to drug and alcohol prevention have varied since the 70s and 80s. The D128 approach to Snowball focuses on holistic well-being and connecting with others in a fun, warm, and supportive environment. 

Every other year, LHS adminsters the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) in early February.  All LHS students participate anonymously. This means that one common link is provided to students, provided by the University of Illinois Center for Prevention Research and Development, and all answers go directly to U of I. No names are collected. LHS receives a summary report of data and cannot access anything but summarized data. In other words, it's impossible for anyone at the school to know how any individual student is responding to any particular question. In addition, it is also impossible to know 

Parents can find information about the IYS by visiting the Illinois Youth Survey website and clicking on "FAQs," then "Parent FAQs."  

Top concerns raised by students:

"People just lie on the surveys."  While it's likely true that some students may not be truthful, studies have shown that most students respond truthfully. If a student decides to give extreme answers, those surveys are not included in the final data. 

"The school sees the answers and will call people in." As indicated above, there is no way for the school to know anything but summarized data broken down only by grade. 

Have questions? Concerns? Curious to learn more? Please email or stop in to see Dr. Nelson in the back office of room 006. Email brenda.nelson@d128.org.

LHS students will take the IYS on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. An email will be sent to parents with more detailed information, as well as an opportunity for parents/guardians to opt out their child

The Senior Wellness Board is comprised of students committed to leading and helping plan all Prevention & Wellness activities. Interested? Contact Dr. Nelson via Email.

Every Wednesday during lunch hours throughout the school year, local mental health focused agencies and organizations host activity resource tables for any interested student. Come learn about the resources available regarding a variety of wellness related topics and talk to professionals who work in these areas. 

Wildcat Summit launched in 2021 by seven student directors who attended an Illinois Human Performance Project leadership conference, in the early days of virtual conferences. Together, they formed a vision of an event focused on four core topics: Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Relationships, and Healthy Discourse, representing the four "flames" of Life of a Wildcat. Student speakers presented on each of these topics and student-facilitated small groups engaged in conversation and activites related to topic.

In subsequent years, Wildcat Summit migrated to Crawford House on Butler Lake. It takes place in late January.

Wildcats Rise, brought to you by Life of a Wildcat, meets on Monday mornings 3 times per month. As a student-led club, leaders choose wellness-focused activities and discussion questions each meeting. This is a fun, easy-going club and open to all students.