Letter To Parents About Alcohol - 3-27-06

Dear Parents,

     Spring is a very hopeful, exciting, eventful season at La Vernia High School.  Spring is also a time of transition for teens.  Some are enjoying their first prom or moving on to more adult experiences with graduation as a starting point.  If bad decision-making and risky behavior become involved in these rites of spring, the season can quickly change from hopeful to devastating.
     Statistically, prom night and graduation time rank high for increased instances of underage drinking.  Unfortunately, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration ranks Texas first in underage traffic fatalities related to alcohol and prom night remains a tempting evening for teens to drink with potentially serious consequences for them and their friends.
     We know that good decision making skills are crucial to preventing alcohol related tragedies.  In an effort to assist our teens in good decision making skills, we are taking an opportunity during this critical time of the year to educate our students on the impact that alcohol may have on their lives and the lives of their family and friends.  We are hoping that you, as parents, will work with us and support us in our efforts.  We have come to learn from working with teens that parents who take an active role in their teen’s life make a positive difference in helping their teen make healthy choices.
     We will be addressing this issue in a few different ways over the next few weeks/months.
     First, you will find educational information sent with this letter for you and your student, with more reminders to be distributed periodically throughout the remainder of this year.  This information will also be available on our website at www.lvschools.net.
     Second, you will soon be seeing a vehicle parked on the land adjacent to the high school campus that has previously been involved in an accident.  Please rest assured that this particular vehicle was not involved in an accident involving one of our students and is only being used as an example of an accident.  It is a known fact that visual aids assist in the learning process and we are using this as an example of the dangerous consequences of drinking and driving.  Accidents can and will happen when good decisions are not made.  Many of our organizations including National Honor Society, Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Art Club have recognized the importance of this effort and have provided posters and signs for the hallways and for the area around the area of the vehicle.
     Thank you for your willingness to assist us by discussing these important issues with your teens.  When schools and parents serve as partners in education, success is ensured.
     We sincerely hope that the remainder of the school year will be a happy, healthy, and safe one for you and your family.

La Vernia ISD School Health Advisory Council