Students and parents of fifth-graders and up will be brought together next week in a workshop sponsored by the Student Leadership Corps for "Family Night."
By:Laura Toto
The workshop, "Get the Scoop: News You Can Use to be Safe from Drugs and Alcohol," will inform parents and children about the dangers of substances, including alcohol, marijuana, and "club drugs" such as Ecstasy.
The Student Leadership Corps is a group of seventh- and eighth-graders who are peer to peer educators for a drug-free lifestyle.
The night will include a skit, a video presentation and small group discussions with parents and students.
The skit "Get the Scoop" will have anchors talking about drugs related to sporting and entertainment events. The video features clips of children who have been in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers.
"These were kids who did not intend to be addicts," said the Student Leadership Advisor Anna Mahler. "The children will also talk about how they managed to hide their addictions from their family and teachers."
In the small discussion groups, parents will be placed with children who are not their own. In this way each can speak more freely and both parents and children can discuss what took place when they come back together at the end.
Last year, "Family Night" focused on inhalants, and two years ago it focused on communicating with the family about drugs and alcohol.
Students, parents or both can attend. Students who do attend will receive extra credit in Health and Physical Education at the middle school.
Family Night will be held from 7:30-9 p.m. May 3 at the middle school media center. Anyone interested in attending must register for the free night with Anna Mahler at 874-3420 ext. 232.