Gang Resistance Education and Training

G.R.E.A.T. stands for Gang Resistance Education and Training. The G.R.E.A.T. program is mainly taught at Tomah Area Schools by Officer Melanie Marshall.  If you have any questions about the G.R.E.A.T. program, you can contact Officer Marshall at (608)374-7414
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G.R.E.A.T. instruction focuses on providing life skills to students to help them avoid delinquent behavior and the use of violence to solve problems. The goal of G.R.E.A.T. is to help youth avoid gang membership, prevent violence and criminal activity, and develop a positive relationship with law enforcement.

The G.R.E.A.T. program is taught in twelve lessons. The lessons are as follows:  Lesson 1 – A Gang and Violence Prevention Program;  Lesson 2 – The Real Deal on Gangs and Violence;  Lesson 3 – Being part of the Community;  Lesson 4 – How to Set Goals;  Lesson 5 – Making the Right Choice;  Lesson 6 – How to Communicate Effectively;  Lesson 7 – Thinking of Others;  Lesson 8 – Some Ways of Refusing;  Lesson 9 – Dealing with Peers;  Lesson 10 – Managing Your Anger;  Lesson 11 – How to Calm Others;  Lesson 12 – How to Solve Conflicts.

The lessons are taught to sixth graders at the schools in the Tomah School District. The lessons are taught in way that makes the student an active participant in the program.  This technique increases student ownership because the students are actually constructing the strategies themselves.