High Impact Peer Program (H.I.P.P.)

2023/2024 School Year | Updates & News

The High Impact Peer Program (HIPP) at Perrysburg Junior High School (PJHS) is a proven program that focuses on anti-bullying, developing leadership and self-confidence within the school. This program has been in place for decades at PJHS, and has impacted hundreds of students.

Each semester, 24-26 students are chosen by faculty and advisors at PJHS based on the skills that they already possess, but also on the potential they have shown. These students participate in an intense overnight camp experience where they are pushed outside of their comfort zone through rope courses, team challenges and deep self-reflection. Students also attend sessions relating to leadership and how good leaders can help stop/prevent bullying. The result is that these young people learn to be leaders and advocates for each other and their community.

The students who have this life-changing experience each year are challenged to bring those lessons back to their peers and share what they have learned through programs, presentations and one-to-one conversations.

Jackie Derr, STEM Teacher at PJHS, has been part of HIPP for 12 years, and has served as head advisor for the last 10 years. Ms. Derr shared: “To be able to take these students who were nominated by at least two different teachers is an amazing experience! Every time I take a group of students I continue to smile with pride as they each choose to step out of their comfort zone and are successful at the given challenge.

“Watching our PJHS students encourage and lift each other up during the challenges is so cool! My goal is for every student to come back from camp a better person than when they left. When you receive messages from students and parents years after attending HIPP camp thanking me for the opportunity and sharing how much they use the camp in their life – you know it’s a great camp!”