EVANSTON — Students at Evanston Middle School spent the half-day before Thanksgiving break rotating between presentations that were both fun and informative. While teachers attended professional development, principal Eric Christenot and other staff members guided students through three hour-long assembly rotations. 

In the school auditorium, Jill Vanderwood, award-winning author of “Erase the Problem of Bullying,” spoke to the students about the harmful effects of bullying and shared true stories of individuals who had overcome being bullied in their youth. 

Vanderwood had each student complete an “I’ve Got Your Back” contract card to share with a partner. Each card had both students’ names and said, “I owe you two acts of kindness.” Students were encouraged to remember the contract and help one another out in the future. 

In the commons area, students participated in a drug awareness and education program presented by Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers Scott Nelson and Austin Bluemel. The two troopers shared information on different types of drugs, including their effects and street names. 

The students were also shown video footage of people on various drugs to see the erratic behavior. Students had an opportunity to ask questions, with some questions referring to the possible medical benefits of marijuana. The troopers spent some time discussing the therapeutic effects of CBD versus the high-producing effects of the THC component of marijuana. 

Trooper Josh Carris of Rock Springs also joined the presentation with his canine partner, Zoe. Students were able to see for themselves how quickly Zoe found a backpack the troopers had previously hidden, laughing as the dog worked her way through them. 

The third presentation was by Emily Kirk with the American Heart Association, which focused on physical activity and heart health. Kirk shared statistics on stroke and heart disease, and also focused specifically on heart disease in youth. 

She got the students active and moving in the gymnasium, playing games like Pac Man Tag and Human Pinball, creating a flurry of hula hoops, rubber balls and boisterous kids. 

The students rotated by grade level so that everyone was able to participate in each presentation and activity, as Christenot bustled among the three with a smile.