BHS girls get a lesson in self defense - The Sentinel

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Turley Publications photos by Aimee M. Henderson
THE SENTINEL • THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012
High School students cheer on their peer during an attack simulation. A BHS student fights off an attacker during the RAD simulation at the high
school while physical education teacher and RAD instructor Alison Tripp
instructs her.
Belchertown Police Officer Jason Christophori
takes a hit while posing as an attacker during a
RAD simulation at the high school.
Chief Fran Fox instructs a student to run by her
attacker, Officer Jason Christophori.
RAD | FROM PAGE 1
be confident in their self.”
He said the course includes education hours as well
as hands-on training. He said there are five components
to the course including the educational aspect, teaching
them to make their own decisions, depend on one self,
self-realization and personal power.
“If they had to, they could,” he said.
Last week was the final simulation in which the
girls used what they learned throughout the semester
to fight off an attacker, or two or three, in some simulations.
The attackers were played by Belchertown Police
Officers as well as two Chicopee physical education
teachers/RAD instructors, Alex Efstratios and Mel
Sasser.
“It’s so worth while for these girls,” said Sasser.
Junior Kierra Krzcuik said she signed up for the
course because she thought having the skills taught was
a good idea. She said just knowing she could protect
herself made a big difference.
“I have definitely learned a lot,” she said. “I think this
would be helpful for a lot of people.”
Katlyn Nobre, a senior, said following one of her
simulated attacks, “It was crazy. It felt really real.”
Nobre said she “absolutely feels prepared” if an
attack were to happen. She said it was important for her
to take the course because she will be going off to college
next year and wants to be able to protect herself.
“I figured I need some kind of empowerment,” she
said.
A student winds up for a hit to the head during
the RAD simulation held in the gymnasium at the
high school.
Autumn Mongeon, a junior at BHS, fights her way out of a double attack.
Kierra Krzcuik, a junior at Belchertown High
School, practices her skills before the RAD simulation
starts.
Students were faced with multiple attackers during
the simulation.
Students
were even
put to a
test that
involved
three
attackers.