A dozen members of the B.M.C. Durfee High School Peaceful Coalition and their advisors, Paul Leite and Michaela Gagne Hetzler, joined physical education teacher and head baseball coach Brad Bustin for an after-school session in teamwork exercises on December 21, 2010. "We were looking for ways to bring these students together to establish trust and interpersonal communication," said advisor Paul Leite. "These exercises are a powerful way to teach teamwork and to create a bond among group members," he added. The session began by members tossing yarn balls among members, then attempting to unravel strings connecting members, and  concluded with several trust exercises in which members would have to catch fellow team members. "It really changed the way we saw each other," stated one of the Coalition members. "It was awesome." The group plans to continue with similar exercises with additional Coalition members over the coming weeks. Click here for photos of a Coalition session with the Fall River Police. For more information about the Peaceful Coalition, contact student advisor Paul Leite at 508-235-2694 or Michaela Gagne Hetzler,..
 

(Top row, left) Coalition members prepare to catch the yarn ball tossed by advisor Paul Leite. (Top row, center) Members work with Mr. Bustin to get untangled from strings that they were given attaching each member of the group. (Top row, right) Advisor Michaela Gagne Hetzler laughs as a member falls back is is caught by Mr. Bustin. (Middle row, left) Members then try falling back to be caught by other members. (Middle row, right) One member and Mr. Bustin "toss" another back and forth between them. (Bottom row, left) Advisor Paul Leite is tossed around the circle. (Bottom row, center) Mr. Leite watches as a member is raised above the group. (Bottom row, right) A Peaceful Coalition member is caught as he falls back into the group.