“Hopefully, this event will help some people see how important it is to not drink and drive,” Associated Student Body President Brenda Hernandez said. “I hope showing them how a drunken driving scenario plays out will make an impact on the students this year.”
The program comes ahead of Monrovia High School’s prom on May 19 and graduation on June 7.
The event, coordinated by activities director and math teacher Sandy Duff, featured a simulated car crash, rescue efforts from police officers and firefighters, dramatized injuries and deaths of several students, a mock student arrest and guest presentations detailing real-life drunken driving consequences.
“I would love for this event to make students think about drinking and driving and the effects it can have on others,” Duff said. “We want them to make smart decisions and to think about their families and other people on the road before they drive under the influence.”
The program comes ahead of Monrovia High School’s prom on May 19 and graduation on June 7.
The event, coordinated by activities director and math teacher Sandy Duff, featured a simulated car crash, rescue efforts from police officers and firefighters, dramatized injuries and deaths of several students, a mock student arrest and guest presentations detailing real-life drunken driving consequences.
“I would love for this event to make students think about drinking and driving and the effects it can have on others,” Duff said. “We want them to make smart decisions and to think about their families and other people on the road before they drive under the influence.”
A Monrovia High counselor and alumnus dressed as grim reapers to pull several students from their classrooms every 15 minutes before the crash scenario to become the “living dead,” representing lives lost to drunken driving. All “living dead” students and crash scene participants were kept overnight at a nearby hotel with no contact to the outside world for 24 hours, hosting team-building activities and writing sorrowful letter to their families. Mock vigils with eulogies from family and friends were also held.
During the second day, all Monrovia High juniors and seniors attended a mock funeral with the living dead students hoisting a casket to the front of the auditorium and placing flowers inside. All students reflected on their experiences as they watched a video of the simulated crash scene from the day before and as their peers were transported to the hospital and mortuary.
“This event is gut-wrenching – even knowing that it is a simulation,” Monrovia Unified Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian said. “It takes a great deal of coordination between the school, California Highway Patrol, Monrovia Police Department and the City of Monrovia to pull this off. This is an investment given without hesitation because it is an investment in our students.”
This is the sixth “Every 15 Minutes” event held by Monrovia High, funded by a $6,000 grant from the California Highway Patrol. Duff said applying for the grant, choosing students to participate in the crash scene, selecting “living dead” students, hiring makeup artists and coordinating with police officers, firefighters and mortuary companies is a yearlong process.
During the second day, all Monrovia High juniors and seniors attended a mock funeral with the living dead students hoisting a casket to the front of the auditorium and placing flowers inside. All students reflected on their experiences as they watched a video of the simulated crash scene from the day before and as their peers were transported to the hospital and mortuary.
“This event is gut-wrenching – even knowing that it is a simulation,” Monrovia Unified Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian said. “It takes a great deal of coordination between the school, California Highway Patrol, Monrovia Police Department and the City of Monrovia to pull this off. This is an investment given without hesitation because it is an investment in our students.”
This is the sixth “Every 15 Minutes” event held by Monrovia High, funded by a $6,000 grant from the California Highway Patrol. Duff said applying for the grant, choosing students to participate in the crash scene, selecting “living dead” students, hiring makeup artists and coordinating with police officers, firefighters and mortuary companies is a yearlong process.