This is “November/December/January Part 2”, comprised of about one-third of the articles in the printed issue.
See “November/December/January Part 1” and “November/December/January Part 3” for other articles.
From the Library Media Center
(LMC)
THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON THESE DAYS
The LJHS Drama Department
presents The Laramie Project
Thank you, senior parents for
the tremendous help with the Snack Shack during home football games. You are great. Every hot dog sold helps lower the senior
dues. Thanks also to Jim and 7-UP for
the use of the coolers in the new visitor’s snack shack, as well as to everyone
who bought pens during our fundraiser.
As you maneuver the college maze
with your student, here are a few things to remember:
· Sign up immediately for a
final try at the SAT’s.
· Get all requests for transcripts
in early to the registrar, Ms. Solberg.
· Don’t forget to thank the
teachers/counselors who write reference letters.
· If an alumna of a college or
university contacts you, respond quickly and respectfully.
· Enjoy the experience – hopefully,
it’s a once in a lifetime process!
Have relaxing, joyful
holidays. The rest of the school year
will be a downhill marathon. 2003 is
sure to be exciting, fun, and memorable.
Your 12th Grade Reps —
Genie
Bell 453-0847
Sandy Dinnsen 459-2211
Maria Fischer 488-4003
Carol Kramer 546-1474
Candace Person 456-2635
Torrie Schiller 454-8138
Cindy Tindaro 272-0380
Clare Wells 276-8037
Homecoming is behind us now, and we can look forward to Thanksgiving and Winter Break. Academics are top priority this year, so encourage your children to continue working hard. It will pay off! Please support your students’ efforts to prepare for college by making sure that they've registered to take SAT I, SAT II, and ACT. SAT I and ACT should be taken this spring. SAT II tests should be taken in subjects being studied this year. The sooner you sign up, the better.
Speaking of college, Spring Break is a good time to plan
some college visits. Encourage your
child to communicate with older friends who are away at school, so he/she can
begin to get a feel for what type, location, and size college might be a good
fit. The Counseling Office is packed
with information, catalogs, and videos, and your child's counselor is
your best source
of
information about college. The more thought and forthright discussion that goes into the process, the better.
Happy Holidays!
Your 11th Grade Reps —
Lisa
Braun-Glazer 454-4992
Trish Billings 488-4516
Susanna Flaster 459-0470
Loretto Garver 459-8936
Karen Giffin 619-692-4004
Liz Lindenfeld 454-1242
Kris McMillan 551-5531
Susan McClellan 459-2244
Caroline Nierenberg 558-9179
Julie Skrdla 459-1823
The Sophomore Class is selling cards for Krispy Kreme Donuts and for Papa John’s Pizza. Please see Mrs. Bell in the office or class president David Peck to support our class.
Thanks to everyone who helped with Homecoming!
Your 10th Grade Reps —
Genie
Bell 453-0847
Karen Giffin 619-692-4004
Lorraine Mautner 581-0548
Cheryl McGrory 456-0570
Kris McMillan 551-5531
Yvonne Oberle 459-1699
Maria Robinson 729-0464
Ellen Sacks 457-2608
Nancee Schwartz 456-7993
Maryfaith
Schweithardt 614-0224
Sandy Smith 454-8674
Freshman year is a big adjustment. The nine-week grading period ended November 1. Grades earned up to that point will be mailed home soon thereafter. Please review your student's progress: if your child is struggling with a class, talk to the teacher about how to improve the grade. Semester grades that are included on a student's permanent record will be issued after exams at the end of January.
Currently, freshman grades are not included in the student's important GPA & class rank statistics for college application purposes. However, keep in mind that some private colleges and universities request ninth-grade transcripts along with tenth through twelfth.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact one of us. Have a wonderful winter holiday!
Your 9th Grade Reps —
Candace
Person 456-2635
Jackie
Helm 454-4962
Lynn
Sauer 454-8720
Maggie Cummings 456-2556
Gina Hixson 454-9681
Pam Smith 454-6625
A
list of the main textbooks used for each of the courses taught at LJHS has
recently been posted on the web for you.
For each of the books we’ve included a toll-free number for the
publisher or vendor you can contact to purchase a copy (usually over the phone
with a credit card). You will also see
links and toll-free numbers to three used textbook vendors where you can
frequently find used copies of these books for sale at significantly
lower prices than buying them new.
You’ll find the list at: http://www.ljhs.sandi.net/departments/library/course-text.htm.
At the top of that list is a link “used textbook vendors.”
I’m
hoping this will help those of you who would like to purchase second copies for
your son/daughter, so he/she can keep a copy at home and lighten the load in
the backpack. Since we’re not funded to
provide second copies for students and we can’t sell our copies (we need them
all!), this is a way you can get second copies.
There are a few students who have brought doctors’ notes to the Nurse
detailing a special medical condition that would be helped by having second
copies, but even to those students we can only check out a second copy if we
happen to have an extra available… and we often don’t.
Governor
Davis has signed AB 2532 which will require textbook publishers to produce
“lighter books.” I heard a brief report
on KPBS radio wherein the commentator speculated that the way they’ll do that
is to break what is currently one volume into two and make both volumes
paperbound instead of hardbound. While
that sounds great to those who aren’t responsible for textbook circulation, the
reality is that we will have twice as many volumes to barcode and circulate
(doubling that workload for LMC staff) and the bindings will last only a year
or two at best. After that, we’ll have
to have them rebound (with hardcover bindings at about $6 per copy, which will
marginally increase their weight) or buy new ones to replace them.
While
this is the most likely scenario for the near term, I think eventually we’re
going to move to e-textbooks on book-sized “tablets” weighing less than two
pounds. The technology is so close I can
taste it. For more on this fascinating
possibility, read my “Hardware Matters” article at http://www.ljhs.sandi.net/faculty/SGrant/SharedProf.html.
Steve
Grant
Library
Media Teacher
Did
you know there are answers on the web to many of the “frequently-asked
questions” posed by parents and students?
Take a look by going to the LMC Home Page at:
http://ljhs.sandi.net/departments/library/
…and clicking on “Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ’s).”
Bubblemonkey:
Web site for your Kids about Drugs,
Alcohol, Tobacco . . .
There’s
a new web site for students about these issues… and it’s very cool,
especially the Flash version. (If your
computer doesn’t have Flash installed, there’s a link to easily download and
install it.) It includes true, very
short stories from teens who have dealt with these things.
From
the SDCS Staff Bulletin: “Anonymous, interactive web site on drugs,
alcohol, and tobacco established for San Diego teenagers in both English and
Spanish... Learn information about
substance abuse, test what you may already know, and get answers from medical
experts across the nation and from teens here in San Diego... The interactive site also allows students to
rate their risk of abuse, and provides referrals for local assistance
and support if students think they have a problem.”
Have
your son/daughter take a look: www.bubblemonkey.com.
… And The Band Plays
On!
After
getting plenty of practice playing "On Wisconsin" during the October
11 rout of Kearny Mesa, the Viking Band is gearing up for the holiday season
(what, already?!). The Jazz Band will be
playing again this year at
The
band gets "into the spirit" on Wednesday, December 18, for the annual
Holiday Concert at
Thanks to everyone who sold and bought Entertainment Books – this year's drive was a huge success! This will help greatly in securing new music and supplies to make our band better than ever.
At the August meeting of the Site Governance Committee for 2002-2003 Carole LeCren was elected chair and Melissa Cunningham vice-chair; Kerry Johnson was elected recorder at the September meeting.
Site Governance now has its own web page on the school web site at:
http://www.ljhs.sandi.net/governance.
Items on the web page include a roster of committee members, minutes from the previous meetings for this year, and agendas for upcoming meetings (which will be posted prior to each meeting). The web page also includes the text of the Site Governance document, the Instructional Autonomy document, and the Principal's Evaluation Form.
A motion was passed to limit the site governance meetings to one hour, with extensions in 15-minute increments if agreed upon during the meeting. Future agendas will be organized under three main headings: Instructional, Operational, and Community.
Agenda items can be submitted to site governance by way of any of the committee members. Dates for the remaining meetings this school year are:
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* May 27 or
There has been a lot of confusion about the dress code this year. We have always had a dress code, the details of which are in the student information packet that we as parents sign at the beginning of the school year. Your students also have dress code information in their planners. The dress code is being rigorously enforced this year with these consequences:
First and second offenses: The student is sent to the Nurse’s office and must change into P.E. clothes.
Third offense: There is a one-day suspension for defiance.
Unacceptable attire includes, but is not limited to, bare midriffs (even an inch showing), tops with spaghetti straps, men's white underwear-style tank top, exposed undergarments, and any immodest clothing. Sweat pants are acceptable as are regular tank tops (despite rumors to the contrary).
Please take a look at your students as they go out the door for school and make sure the outfits they are wearing are appropriate for school. If they tell you that nobody cares, don't believe it! There have been over 180 infractions so far. There have also been seven suspensions, which stay on the student’s permanent record, not as "dress code violation" but as "defiance."
Governance Sub-Committee on Discipline
Friday Nov.
8 Staff Development Day
Monday Nov.
11 Veterans Day
Thursday Nov.
28 Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday Nov.
29 Thanksgiving Holiday
Monday Dec.
23 through
Friday Jan. 3 Winter Break
Monday Jan.
20 Martin Luther King Day
Thursday Feb.
13 Staff Development Day ) 5-day
Friday Feb.
14 Lincoln Day ) week-
Monday Feb.
17 Washington Day ) end
Wednesday Dec.
4 (a)
Wednesday Jan.
8 (a)
Wednesday (finals) Jan. 22 (b)
Thursday (finals) Jan. 23 (b)
Friday (finals) Jan. 24 (b)
Wednesday Feb.
5 (a)
(a)
Dismissal 11:31 a.m.
(b) Dismissal 11:40 a.m.
Wednesday, January 15
See for yourself what
your student experiences in class. Check
in at the office, and then visit any classroom on campus during school hours,
7:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. With a little
planning, you can even visit your child’s teachers during periods when your
child is in another class!
Helping Students Succeed
Link Crew Leaders, juniors and seniors, are asked to be a presence on campus modeling positive behavior and facilitating learning experiences for our freshmen and new students. The awesome Link Crew Leaders at La Jolla High have initiated several academic and social follow-ups to strengthen the relationships that began at new student orientation. The following is a list of accomplishments:
The Blast-Off Dance was a huge
success. Watching the freshmen was a
rewarding experience as Link Leaders asked team members to dance. Can you imagine the looks of apprehension,
for example “You want me to dance with you, a senior?” Freshmen had a great time along with the
leaders who helped promote a safe environment in which students could feel
comfortable.
Link Leaders began assisting
students in Geometry and English classes during the sixth week of school. Several staff members who needed extra help
with students made a request, and Link Crew Leaders went immediately into
action! Leaders are sitting side-by-side
with the students, prompting and giving overall support in classrooms.
Another ambitious project will
be tutoring students in English and Math after school in Room 802. The hours will be 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. on Monday
and Wednesday. Tutoring is voluntary;
however, it is hoped that parents and teachers will encourage students to take
advantage of our outstanding leaders’ talents and abilities to promote student
achievement.
Link Leaders not only built
their own parade float for homecoming, but also assisted the ninth grade class
with their float. Through identification
and connection with a Link Leader, it is hoped that ultimately freshmen will
start to see themselves as leaders on campus, too.
Link Crew Leaders have a
yearlong commitment. That includes
calling crew members and asking how they’re doing in school or asking them to
join in a school or outside activity. The
activities spark discussion and thought regarding the upcoming
responsibilities, choices, and challenges of being in high school. Imagine -- our leaders have been given
permission to care about each other and the structure in which to do it. As positive role models, Link Leaders are motivators,
leaders, and teachers who guide freshmen to discover what it takes to be
successful in high school!
Questions about Link Crew can be
addressed to Susie Struhar 454-3081 x254 or Mrs. Vicki Eleveth 454-3081.
Fridays & Saturdays,November 15, 16, 22, and 23 —
Sunday, November 24 – 2:00 p.m.
Parker Auditorium
Tickets: adults $10, seniors and military $8, students without ASB card $6, students with ASB card $5
The Coggan Family Aquatic Complex officially opened its doors to the public in September. The complex features a 50-meter swimming pool, a spa, two one-meter diving boards, and women's and men's locker rooms. Activities at the pool include lap swimming, recreational swimming, Master’s swim team, club water polo and swim teams, and private swim lessons. Stop by the pool and sign up for your membership today!
Pool Hours:
Monday – Friday
Saturday and Sunday
For more information, see www.cfaquatics.org.
For information on Masters Swim
Team Workouts, see www.swimsmarter.com.
For information on the Wind N’ Sea
club and pool hours, see www.windnsea-aquatics.com.
Wanted: Parents interested in
being panel members to evaluate senior exhibitions for the Class of 2003. The senior exhibition is a graduation
requirement wherein each student makes a presentation to a panel about a subject
that has made a significant impact on his or her life. The student must demonstrate mastery of
several skills including writing, speaking, organization, and critical
thinking.
Our students are
involved in many different and fascinating areas. The senior exhibition gives them an opportunity
to share their passion and excitement and to demonstrate the academic skills
they have acquired.
The senior exhibition schedule
includes Tuesdays and Thursdays from January through mid-March. The time frame each day is from approximately
noon to 3:00 p.m. The panels are
comprised of three individuals who will evaluate a maximum of ten presentations
each day. Prior to the first day of
senior exhibitions, a short orientation meeting will be held to familiarize
panel members with the process.
We need your help as a panel
member! If you can contribute one or
more afternoons on the dates listed below, please contact Candace Person at
CandacePerson@webtv.net.
Orientation Meeting
Monday, January 6, 2003
2:30 p.m. in Room 301
Senior Exhibition Dates
12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.
Tuesdays: Jan. 7,
14 Feb. 4, 11, 25 March 11, 18
Thursdays: Jan. 9, 16 Feb.
6, 20, 27 March 1, 3
Our vocal
music department at La Jolla High is alive and growing. We have a lot of new students involved in all
three of our performing groups. Our
Madrigals and Jazz Ensemble were happy to participate and sing at the Blast Off
activities. We will be performing at
many local community functions during the upcoming holiday season. All the vocal groups will sing on the
performing stage downtown as part of the La Jolla Christmas Parade on December
8. Also, mark your calendars now for our
annual holiday concert to be held in the Parker Auditorium on Thursday,
December 19 at
We are always happy to
sing for community groups, so if you are involved in a local club and would
like entertainment for a party or special event, please contact Brenda
Henderson at 454-3081 x163. Call early,
because dates for the holidays book quickly!
In February our music,
art, and drama departments will be part of a special Performing Arts Night
sponsored by the Rotary Club of La Jolla.
Watch for more information.
Parents, if your student will be absent, please remember to
phone the attendance office as soon as possible. Also, please be sure to call in advance for
blue slips (needed for appointments, early dismissals or other short-term
absences.) Thank you,
LJHS Attendance Office 454-3081 x203 or x204
All at Blast Off 2002 had a great time! A large turnout of students, families, staff
and community members gathered for a day of sports, food, and fun. We raised a lot of money for the school and
promoted a great deal of school spirit to kick off the school year! Thanks to our football teams and coaches who
battled fiercely on the turf, and to our volleyball and water polo teams for
the excitement their contests added to the day.
Numerous thank-you’s are in order! We are especially grateful to our generous community and parent donors: Albertson’s, Whole Foods Market, Ralphs, Vons, Longs, Little Caesar’s Pizza, Henry’s, Taco Bell, Smart and Final, Jonathan of La Jolla, G Whiz, Monterrey Provision, Porkyland, 7UP/RC, Starbucks, the Bettles family, the Glazener family, and the Fiss family.
I would like to personally thank all the enthusiastic parents who volunteered for the many tasks necessary to make this a successful event. My undying gratitude goes to Kelly Fernandez for her hours of assistance with supplies, shopping, setup and take-down, and all of the little details; to Yvonne Oberle for her fantastic efforts on donations; to Patti Nussbaum, my tireless volunteer coordinator; to Jeanne Lopez for gathering supplies; to Gretchen Glazener, ice queen extraordinaire; to Linda Ballinger and her crew for the awesome snowcones; to my husband, Will Wiegand, for cooking over 650 hot dogs; to Bee Mittermiller for handling the cash; and to Candace Person for coordinating the cleanup! You guys are absolutely terrific! Also deserving of special mention are Julie Crawford (the beautiful signs), Eva and Zach Chayet (banners), Joan Kearny and her crew (festive balloons), Dave Irwin (hot dog mentor), Shane Rose (extra snack shack help), and last, but not least, to our loyal custodians, Gary and Everett.
LJHS is lucky to have the numerous dedicated and enthusiastic parents necessary to put on an event like Blast Off!
Lee Anne Wiegand
2002 Blast Off Chair
Imagine having to write a report on F. Scott Fitzgerald without access to his books, relevant biographies, or important literary analysis. Consider how difficult it would be to write about Mars if the library's most recent astronomy book was published in 1995. And who would want to fall asleep at night without even the option of reading a few chapters of an engrossing novel? Internet and audiovisual resources have their place, but the printed page remains the backbone of any library collection.
Yes, this is a plea for contributions to the Library Tribute Fund. So far, 27 families have contributed just over $1,300. An enthusiastic thank you to Deborah Guss, Robert and Karen Bohrer, Anne and Nick Haritatos, Jan Lee Ande (who also contributed a copy of her most recent book of poems), Beryl and Julian Frank, Elizabeth and H. Keys Allan, Beth Swanberg, Andi and Don McLeod, Philip and Glenda Ginsberg, The Flaster-Valji family, Dr. Bao and Van Nguyen, Suresh Subramani and Feroza Ardeshir, and Kate Potter.
A word to
those waiting for just the right time to give... today is good! The holidays are coming up,
providing a great opportunity to give a useful gift to
Library
Tribute Fund
I would like to make a contribution to the Library Tribute
Fund.
Donor’s name
Address
Telephone Amount of donation $
In honor of (person/persons)
(occasion)
In memory of (name)
Preferred type of book (we will honor your
preference if possible):
Poetry__
Science__ Biography__ History/Culture__ Fiction__
Other (please state)
You may publish my name in the PTA
newsletter: Yes___ No___
Make
check payable to LJHS Library Tribute Fund and mail to:
Library Tribute Fund,
Thank you for your support!
New Science Rooms –
Wow, What a Treat!
The LJHS Science Department is excited and pleased to
finally be moved into the new science rooms financed through the S.P.L.A.S.H.
project. The members of the Science
Department extend a giant thanks to all the parents, alumni, and
community members who donated time, expertise, and money to make it
happen. Special thanks and appreciation
is given to Principal Dana Shelburne and the other members of the S.P.L.A.S.H.
Committee for the countless hours spent fundraising, meeting, coordinating,
discussing, and making decisions which will influence the education of thousands
of current and future
The student desks are a first for schools in
Each room has an integrated set-up for viewing videos, DVD’s, PowerPoint presentations, internet sites, and a special hook-up for a flex cam so students from all over the room may view the fine details of small objects, dissections, or demonstrations. A set of laptops was purchased, which are shared by the teachers sharing a prep room. All four science classrooms have AirPort Base Stations for wireless computing and access to the internet. The amount of storage space in each room is incredible. The cabinets, drawers, display cases, and specialty cabinets were selected after consultation with the teachers. The quality of the cabinets and hardware is high, so even after years of use, the cabinets will still look nice and work well.
Good science has been done for years at LJHS without all the new and wonderful equipment, supplies, furniture and rooms, but now even better science may be done! With the addition of the rooms and facilities, hopefully every student taking courses in these rooms will learn more and better science and understand it more easily. Certainly every student should appreciate being able to learn science in a clean, well-organized, and modern classroom.
The teachers who have moved into the rooms are Shauna Brammer (Room 911 - Physiology and Biology), Holly Eaton (Room 902 - Physics and Biology), Mike Kolodziej (Room 912 - Biology and Physics), and Martin Teachworth (Room 903 - Physics and Science Research Techniques/Science Team).
Come See the New
Science Rooms
There will be an informal open house of the new science rooms during the first or second week in December. This will give you a chance to see the modern lab benches, the boomerang-shaped demonstration teacher desk, the beautiful cabinets, and new lab prep rooms. Come and see the new rooms and enjoy the newest addition to the science facilities at LJHS. This open house is for seeing the facilities, not for talking about grades or how a student is doing in a course. A flier will be sent home when the dates and times are determined. Alternatively, you could come to the next parent visitation day or contact a science teacher to arrange a visit. Generally, coming after school will allow you to see the new rooms without disturbing a class.
The
Several LJHS Science Team students earned recognition for craftsmanship and creativity in the annual San Diego Aerospace Museum Model Engineering Contest in October. Students used kits or created from “scratch” models of actual or futuristic aircraft or spacecraft. Students worked on the models at home or after school in Room 903 (Science Team headquarters).
The following students received recognition:
Davey Sykora – first and third
place, Ryan Keane – third, Jared Pinn – second, Alex Li – two first places,
Dorian Mattrey – first and third place, Puja Vithalani – third, Eric Heung –
second and third, Richard Rossi – second, Yvonne Heung – third, Aaron Neal –
first, and Rachel Shearer – first place.
The awards were earned for models ranging from pre-powered flight to
futuristic and proposed spacecraft. The
first place models will be on display at the
AAPT Physics Photo
Contest
This year Kate Wegrzyn won
Editor’s Note: there is another LJHS student who also placed in this contest; details will appear in the next newsletter issue..
Who, What, When, Where, Why?
When
asked about current concerns that parents should know, several La Jolla High
School administrators, without exception and without hesitation, said that they
wished that more parents were aware, daily, of the activities of their
children. Each one emphasized that most
students troubled with drugs and alcohol are those who are not closely
monitored by their parents. Parents who
stay close to the pulse of their child’s daily activities will better help
their child to grow up healthy and drug-free.
The
issues are not new; they’re the same issues that parents have faced for
decades. Under-aged use of alcohol
continues to be a problem, as does marijuana use. Unfortunately, some of the marijuana
available in San Diego today is far more dangerous and potent than that of even
a few years ago.
Sometimes
kids are pressured into taking drugs or using alcohol, but they also report (in
an article by the U.S. Department of Education) that they choose to use drugs
because they want to relieve boredom, feel good, forget about their troubles
and relax, have fun, satisfy their curiosity, take risks, ease their pain, feel
grown-up, show their independence, belong to a specific group, or just look
cool.
Some
students try to sneak off campus during school hours to get out of class and
sometimes to use drugs or smoke cigarettes nearby. Drinking or smoking occasionally even happen
on campus. One wonders if parents are
aware that alcohol might be disappearing from their homes. Note that alcohol that looks like water in a
water bottle is an easy thing to hide.
School personnel care about our students and are working together to
prevent such things by keeping students in school and engaged.
You
as a parent can contribute by caring about your child’s school performance and
asking about their activities, both in school and socially. You know your child best — you can keep your
eyes open to potential problems and you might know some healthy alternatives
for your child.
Even
if you have a perfect, trusting relationship with your high school child, here
are some things to think about:
Your
child might not have problems with alcohol or drugs, but are you sure about his/her
friends? Do you know the friends your
child hangs out with? If your child is
going to a friend’s house, do you know the phone number of that house?
If your
child takes an unusually long time to get home in the afternoon, are you aware
of what activities he or she may be involved in?
Be sure
that your child knows what to do in case he/she is caught in a situation that
doesn’t feel comfortable. Talk with your
child about a plan to get home safely.
If in an uncomfortable situation, does he or she know to call you to be
picked up and that it is okay to leave a party early?
What if
your child is driven home by a friend who has been drinking? Be sure that your son or daughter does not
risk getting in a car with a student or parent who may be under the influence
of drugs or alcohol! Set up a back-up
plan so that he or she is never caught in this dangerous situation. Kids can also encourage other kids to not
drive if they feel there has been drinking or drug use. It is okay to get an alternate ride home.
One
father’s way to keep close to his daughter and know that she is being safe is
to greet her with a Dad’s hug when she comes home from an event... he welcomes
her home and also senses for himself if there are signs of smoke or alcohol.
It can
be hard to stay awake until your child gets home from late-evening
functions. But you could have an
agreement that your child rouses you upon arrival home, so you can then
interact with him or her and be aware of behavior and other signs. If you wait until morning, the warning
signals will have worn off.
If you
are worried about your child, show your concern by setting aside time to talk
about your standards. Teens who can talk
with their parents are less likely to be involved in dangerous activities. It is okay to make it clear to your kids that
you do not approve of alcohol use or drug use.
What you are trying to communicate to them in a loving way is: “I love
you, and I want the best for you, and I hope you won’t try alcohol or
drugs.”
Discuss
whether the risks are worth what people get from using drugs, and whether it
would be worth it to take those risks.
Even without addiction, experimentation is too great a gamble. One bad experience can change a life forever.
Be
proactive. Don’t step back and hope that
the problem will go away. It’s important
that children know the risks of taking drugs or using alcohol, and it’s
important that they truly understand that you disapprove of them getting
involved. If you do suspect that your
child may be involved, a call to your child’s school counselor or a
professional family counselor is in order.
A wealth of
information is available online. For
starters, here are some good sites:
http://www.theantidrug.com This site is for students and parents, based
upon the premise that parents are “the Anti-Drug.” Your involvement with your children helps to
keep them healthy.
www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms/ This site was fascinating, with lists of
current drugs and the code names and street names used to describe them.
http://www.health.org/ The National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and
Drug Information site has links to many valuable sites.
www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol-info This site has an incredible number of links
to quick, balanced information for parents of teens about alcohol.
------ End of Nov/Dec/Jan Part 3. Also see Nov/Dec/Jan
Part 1 and Nov/Dec/Jan Part 3. -----