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Roxbury Middle School Students Find Answers Through Role Play
February 13, 2007

The Roxbury Police Department visited Eisenhower Middle School on Tuesday, February 13, 2007.  No one had reported a crime.  No one was in trouble.  In fact, no one had even called the police that day. 

The police were there to give the students a chance to learn more about what they do – and how they can help middle schoolers in Roxbury.   The Roxbury Police Department, along with over a dozen other agencies, participated in the Game of Life, which gives kids the opportunity to increase their problem solving skills and receive invaluable information about the resources in their town, community, and County. 

The Game of Life is an interactive, all-day event that is designed to spark awareness among teenagers about various social issues, from drug abuse to violence, as well as the agencies in their community that are in place to address such problems.  The Game was brought to Eisenhower Middle School by the Morris County Child Abuse Prevention Collaboration and United Way of Morris County.

During the Game of Life, middle school students are given a description of a problem related to a variety of issues, including domestic violence, substance abuse, pregnancy, eating disorders, gambling, and depression.  Each student has one class period to solve or address the problem by visiting and learning from the various service providers represented at the school that day. 

Participating service providers in this Game of Life at Eisenhower Middle School included: United Way and 2-1-1 First Call for Help; Child and Family Resources; Council on Compulsive Gambling; Day Top, Division of Youth and Family Services; Family Service of Morris County; JBWS; Morris County Sexual Assault Center; Morristown Memorial Hospital Teen Health FX program; Roxbury Municipal Alliance; Roxbury Public Health Department; St. Clare's Girls Rule program; and personnel from the middle and high schools, Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Roxbury Police Department, and Step Ahead Counseling.  

United Way of Morris County thanks the administration and staff at Eisenhower Middle School for hosting this important event.  United Way also thanks Eisenhower Middle School Peer Leaders for their assistance with the Game of Life, as well as the 374 students who actively participated in the Game of Life that day; a fun, educational time was had by all!