The Grade 7/8 class at Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton received a message about drugs from the OPP, then turned around and used it to help deliver the message to the public.
Two weeks ago, OPP Community Services Officer Anne McCoy visited the class to talk about the effects of drugs on people, as well as how to make healthy choices and have healthy relationships.
She then challenged the students to create a poster from that information to deliver an anti-drug message to the public. She took their posters to the Rainy River Valley Substance Abuse Prevention Team’s board meeting, which then judged them.
“SAPT board members were really impressed with your posters,” McCoy told the class last Thursday. “They are happy that you are getting the message and helping to get their message out there.”
In fact, the SAPT was so excited, it donated a T-shirt for a prize. That coupled with a donated basket of goodies from Cloverleaf Grocery in Emo, the top two posters were honoured.
Nathan Zimmerman was awarded first place while Kayle Stamler took second.
Zimmerman showed graphics of drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol on his poster and encouraged people to stay away from them. Stamler also had a strong message, using the letters in DRUGS (D-don’t do it, R-they are wrong, U-you can do better, G-they are gross, and S-they are so wrong).
Zimmerman won the basket and Stamler the T-shirt and an eraser.
McCoy had each of them come to the front of the room and explain their posters. She then gave every participating student OPP tattoos, rulers, and pencils.
The entire class then posed with the winners and their posters.
McCoy is planning to hold this same program throughout the district, including at Riverview School in Rainy River and then at Robert Moore School in Fort Frances on Feb. 27.
“This program is completely separate from D.A.R.E., but complements it,” she explained.
Fort Frances Times
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