Students, parents PROMise to be drug- and alcohol-free

The Rockwood School District has partnered with the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney, municipal prosecutors and local police to get the message out to students, parents and the community that alcohol- and drug-related violations will not be tolerated during prom season.

Police will have a heightened presence in the community during the coming weeks. On April 13, they started posting electronic informational signs throughout the district with the message “PROMise to be drug and alcohol free.”

This warning will remind patrons that it is unacceptable and a crime for minors to consume alcohol and for adults to provide a home or other place for students to drink.

In addition, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch is sending a letter to parents and local businesses thanking them for supporting pre- and post-prom supervised activities and for educating parents, students and businesses of the significant and devastating dangers associated with alcohol and drug use and abuse.

“Violations of laws regarding possession or consumption of alcohol, driving while intoxicated, providing alcohol to minors and related matters will be handled swiftly and severely,” McCulloch said.

Rockwood principals also are helping to ensure that all students are safe. Principals will use the district Alert Now system to send prom safety tips to parents. Parents are encouraged to “know the plans” on the night of prom and communicate the message to their teens.

Rockwood High School proms occur on the following dates:

* Marquette High School in Chesterfield: Sat., April 18.
* Eureka High School in Eureka: Sat., April 18.
* Rockwood Summit High School in Fenton: Sat., April 25.
* Lafayette High School in Wildwood: Sat., May 2.

The following high schools are teaming up with local police and fire departments to present mock drunk driving accidents to the students just days before their prom night:

All juniors and seniors at Eureka High School will watch the Drunk-U-Drama unfold on the parking lot of the school from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on April 15. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Eureka Police and Fire, Arch Air Medical, Schrader Funeral Home and Hendricks Brothers Towing all are involved in the fake accident. The scenario involves a fatal head-on collision involving five victims on prom night.

More than 300 students at Marquette High School will witness a Shattered Dreams Prom Crash re-enactment from 9:15 to 10 a.m. on April 16. This deadly drunk-driving mock accident helps to educate students, parents and the community about the serious consequences of underage drinking when the school parking lot turns into the scene of a drunk-driving car crash.

These efforts are all part of the Rockwood Drug-Free Coalition’s mission to prevent substance abuse and encourage positive behavior. Ken McManus, coordinator for the Rockwood Drug-Free Coalition, said the majority of students do make the right choices.

“In fact, preliminary reports from a recent Search Institute survey show that 79 percent of Rockwood teenagers who are 12-17 years old do not drink alcohol,” McManus said. “However, we still have teens who drink and families who provide alcohol for teens. That is just not acceptable.”

For more information, visit the Rockwood Drug-Free Coalition at rockwood.k12.mo.us/parent/drugfree/default.htm.