AEC observes World Water Day

Alternative Education Center observed World Water Day on March 22, 2024, with the theme "Water for peace." This year's celebration reminds us that, first, water can create peace or spark conflict. People meet their water needs and are healthy when water is abundant, but tensions can rise when water is scarce and people compete for it for survival. Second, prosperity and peace rely on water. International water cooperation is necessary for nations to successfully manage climate change, mass migration, and political unrest. Third, water can lead us out of crisis. An equitably managed water cycle will result in sustainable food and energy production. 

Using a coloring activity, AEC students identified the many uses of water and ways to save it. They shared numerous ideas in home, school, and community contexts. Many students explained how water mobilizes the oil and gas industry in the region. They mentioned that without enough water in the desert region, it would be impossible for their parents to work in the oil field as oil and gas cannot be produced. Students clarified that water is used in hydraulic fracturing, where water is pumped at high pressure into tight formations to open fractures in the rock, allowing natural gas and crude oil to flow to a well for recovery. Lastly, students discussed how the World Water Day celebration helps meet the global goal of peace, justice, and strong institutions. Their parents' work in the oil field exemplifies the importance of water to maintain the peaceful, just, and strong town of Odessa.

AEC students recognize the women in their lives

Alternative Education Center students recognized the women in their lives as they joined the observance of International Women's Day on March 8, 2024. With the theme "Invest in women: Accelerate progress," this year's celebration encourages everyone to help achieve gender equality and women’s well-being in all aspects of life, as such effort creates prosperous global economies and a healthy sustainable world. The celebration challenges us to face and hurdle the key global challenge: the alarming $360 billion annual deficit in gender-equality measures by 2030. Some countries remain to be skeptical of women's power to lead.

AEC students discussed the many contributions of their mothers or female guardians in improving their lives and making their homes the safest and most secure places to live in and thrive. They described the women they love dearly by making posters. They played a Totika game to improve mindfulness, as it relates to how they can help protect the women they care the most about. Students also discussed how this precious celebration contributes to meeting the global goal of gender equality.

AEC joins World Day of Social Justice

Alternative Education Center joined the world in celebrating the World Day of Social Justice on February 20, 2024. World Day of Social Justice reminds us each year of the need to build fairer, more equitable societies. Advancing social justice is the central aim guiding all national and international policies. Societies and economies function more cohesively when social justice is prioritized.

AEC students played a card game to discuss ways to improve social intelligence. They explained how applying social intelligence could lead people to understand social justice and commit to advancing and protecting it. They discussed what social justice could look like in school and family settings. They used a coloring activity to demonstrate their message if they were to help promote social justice. Ultimately, AEC students discussed how the World Day of Social Justice celebration helps promote the global sustainable goals of reduced inequalities and peace, justice, and strong institutions.

AEC boosts local tourism for Global Tourism Resilience Day

Alternative Education Center boosted local tourism in celebration of the Global Tourism Resilience Day on February 16, 2024, typically celebrated every February 17th. The celebration allows people to appreciate and recognize tourism as a major source of income, foreign currency earnings, tax revenue, and employment, especially for developing countries. Because tourism connects people with nature, resilient tourism uniquely encourages environmental responsibility and conservation. 

AEC students drew what they believe is the major source of tourism in Odessa, TX. They identified the oil field as the biggest tourism spot in Odessa and discussed its implications. Many students confidently explained how they are happily benefiting from oil field tourism because their families work in this industry. People from all parts of the globe come to Odessa to check out one of the world's biggest sources of oil and gas and decide to work here, which improves the city's economy. Students also discussed how resilient people in Odessa are because they have maintained the oil and gas production even during COVID-19. They further discussed ways to maintain Odessa's environmental conservation while oil and gas production continues.

Unfortunately, students acknowledged the bad effects of the oil and gas industry and tourism because these invite the proliferation of illegal drug business and abuse. During their guidance lesson, students used REBT's ABCDE approach to explain their activating event in abusing drugs, belief about it, consequence of doing it, effort to dispute their belief, and effective alternative behavior that is helpful to them to stop drug abuse. Finally, students explained how the Global Tourism Resilience Day helps meet the global goal of sustainable cities and communities. 

AEC celebrates International Day of Human Fraternity

Alternative Education Center celebrated on February 9, 2024, the International Day of Human Fraternity, which is annually observed worldwide on February 4th. The celebration of human fraternity for peace and cooperation aims to recognize the valuable contributions of people of all religions or beliefs to humanity. It raises awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind across the globe.

AEC students used a story cubes game to explain ways to be tolerant and accepting of individual differences and appreciative of everyone's contribution to society. Students talked about social and communication skills to be civil to one another. They used art to show the biggest contribution of their culture or identity to society that they are proud of. They explained how the celebration helps meet the global goals of reduced inequalities and peace, justice, and strong institutions. 

AEC remembers Holocaust

Alternative Education Center joined the world in celebrating the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust on January 27, 2024. During this week, AEC students integrated the discussion of the Holocaust into their group guidance sessions. They shared their opinions about the current Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars and why the U.S. supports Israel and Ukraine. 

AEC students shared their personal conflicts at home or in school and explained ways to resolve these conflicts. The most common theme students emphasized was respecting individual differences. Students stressed that all humans regardless of identities have the right to live and learn from mistakes to change and thrive. Students discussed how the Holocaust remembrance celebration helps achieve the global goals of reduced inequalities and peace, justice, and strong institutions. 

AEC wins CREST Award, Education Foundation Grant

Alternative Education Center won two awards during the school year 2023-24: Counselors Reinforcing Excellence in Students in Texas (CREST) and Education Foundation Grant. CREST is awarded yearly by the Texas School Counseling Association to Texas public schools implementing the Texas Comprehensive School Counseling Program with the highest integrity. Schools are judged based on the five categories specified in the Press Release below. It was the first time that AEC received this award, and the community of Odessa joined in the celebration. This state award is living proof that integrating global education into school counseling does not imperil the core of counseling; instead, it enhances students' mental health as they start seeing their significance and contribution to the world. We were featured in the news. 

On the other hand, the AEC counseling project, Gamifying School Counseling, won the Education Foundation Grant early this school year. The project aims to integrate play therapy into school guidance and counseling, targeting significant topics based on the Texas Model of Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. A set of play therapy tools worth more than a thousand dollars was purchased through the grant money and has been productively used in individual and group guidance and counseling sessions with students since the first semester. Our project was featured in the news.